Leslie Richardson joked Tuesday that peer pressure was the reason why she decided to donate blood.
Richardson, a Horse Cave nursing student, was one of several who donated blood at the American Red Cross blood drive on Western Kentucky University’s Glasgow campus.
Overhearing her make the peer pressure comment made Butch Pinkerton laugh.
He is a donor recruitment representative for the American Red Cross, and part of his job is to recruit blood donors.
“He said he would walk over here with me and hold my hand, so that made it better,” Richardson said.
On a more serious note, Richardson said she donated blood because she doesn’t know if or when she or someone in her family might need it.
“Basically, the reason I did it, truly, is because I have a little boy and if he ever got sick and needed blood, I would really need it then,” she said. “I just wanted to be proactive.”
The American Red Cross had a donation goal Tuesday of 17 to 20 units of blood.
Donations are always needed, regardless of what time of year it is. However, the blood supply tends to dwindle during the holidays because donating blood is not something people don’t think about.
“That’s not the first thing on their agenda,” Pinkerton said. “The need is 365. One pint of blood can help save three lives. Blood is not like a commodity you can buy at Wal-Mart. The only way we have to get it is through people, through the goodness of their heart, to donate.”
According to the American Red Cross Web site, only 5 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood in any given year.
Blood is needed not only during disasters, but for people who may be undergoing chemotherapy or who have some type of illness.
All blood types are needed.
“Os are always in demand, because it’s such a rare blood type,” Pinkerton said.
He pointed out that the Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States.
In order to donate blood a person must be at least 17, weigh 110 pounds and be in good health.
“You can give blood if you are 17 without parental consent,” he said. “If you are 16, you have to have parental or guardian consent.”
The American Red Cross was finding that a lot of 16 year olds were wanting to donate blood, but Kentucky state law prohibited them from doing so.
On July 15 state law changed to allow 16 year olds to donate with parental or guardian consent, he said.
Marty McBride, a Glasgow nursing student, also donated blood Tuesday.
Like Richardson, it was Pinkerton’s encouraging words that spurred her to do it.
“I didn’t know there was a blood drive,” McBride said. “The nursing students just happened to be here late so I stayed and donated.”
She said it is a good idea to donate blood.
“You never know if it’s going to be you who needs that blood transfusion when you are in a car accident or whatever,” she said. “You get to help other people and make yourself look great.”
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