BloodSource held its twice-a-semester Sacramento State blood drive on Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27 in the University Union Ballroom.

According to BloodSource, in order to be a viable blood donor, students must meet the following requirements: No cold or flu symptoms for approximately 48 hours prior to donation, weigh a minimum of 100 pounds, not have had hepatitis after ten years of age, must not be pregnant, must not be on antibiotics, must not have HIV/AIDS, not be at risk for HIV/AIDS, or had sexual relations with a person at risk for HIV/AIDS, and must not have leukemia or myeloma.

“I’m volunteering because I like to see people donating blood to people in need,” said Amanda Bair, a junior majoring in biomedical sciences and a BloodSource volunteer. “I volunteer to donate blood every semester when they are on campus, so I figured that I would volunteer to help out. That, and I’m getting ready to apply to a pharmacy school.”

According to the Health Sciences Authority, donated blood serves a multitude of purposes, such as: whole blood (reserved for massive blood loss such as during surgeries and accidents); red blood cells (treating anemia and for replacing cells lost during surgeries, accidents, and childbirth); platelets (treats dengue, leukemia, and cancer patients); and plasma (replaces clotting factors which may be lessened in cases of bleeding and infection).

The reasons that Sac State student donors gave for donating blood were varied.

“I always donate to blood drives,” said Sophia Fox, a junior communications major. “I’m also doing it because Sac State has it here and it’s more convenient.”

Another student cited a more tangible benefit to donating blood.

“[I’m donating blood] because of the extra credit,” said Robert May, a senior majoring in public relations.

May also acknowledged which class is giving extra credit for donating blood in order to inspire fellow students to follow suit.

Students who wish to donate blood can expect the following: a 20 to 30 minute registration, a conversation about the donor’s medical history, and an evaluation of the donor’s temperature, blood pressure, and platelet count, according BloodSource’s website.The actual donation process will last approximately five to seven minutes. After donating, students can visit a rest area providing food and drinks in order to get blood pressure, blood sugar and energy levels back up.

For more information about BloodSource or the blood donation process, visit www.bloodsource.org.