Fall blood drive set next week on UWRF campus

UW River-Falls Greek Life will host the annual fall blood drive on campus from Oct. 22-24, and according to the American Red Cross an urgent needs exists for several blood types.

The blood drive is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. each day in the Falcon’s Nest on the first floor of the University Center. Appointments can be made by visiting the website RedCrossBlood.org and entering “UWRF” in the search bar.

Another way to make an appointment is by downloading a mobile phone application through the Red Cross. This allows users to create and update profiles while speeding up the appointment time if the rapid pass information is completed. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s suggested that one schedule an appointment to avoid timing conflicts with classes and other activities.

According to the American Red Cross, both O negative and O positive blood are always in demand because of their universal donor status. The Red Cross also has an urgent or critical need for A positive, A negative, AB positive, AB negative, B negative and B positive blood types. Currently, there is an emergency status on platelets.

Around 50 people are expected to donate each day of the blood drive. The University Center is a prime location for hosting blood drives because of all the student traffic it creates day to day.

UWRF fraternities are responsible for the fall blood drive, while the sororities are in charge of the spring blood drive. Alpha Gamma Rho member Russell Rogall will be handing out orange juice and cookies for the blood donors as well as advertising the blood drive around campus with flyers.

Greek Life takes the lead on finding volunteers and advertising to help give them the experience, while Student Government Association advisor Nathan Riel-Elness deals with the logistics. The UWRF drive is one of the biggest for the Red Cross regional office in Minneapolis.

“The Red Cross works a lot with hospitals in the area to understand the demand of blood that’s needed,” Riel-Elness said. “They are very reliant upon blood drives like this, especially large ones at schools to meet those demands.”

Community volunteer leader Ogden Rogers is responsible for scheduling the blood drives, encouraging recruitment for new donors and social media advertising. Rogers also is the associate dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies. Rogers applauded the efforts of UWRF fraternities and sororities in volunteering for registration, donor support and running post-donation snacks and refreshments.

“When UWRF students and staff roll up their sleeves and donate blood,” Rogers said, “they are literally helping to save lives all across the country.”