On Wednesday, MSU will start its annual blood drive competing against Ole Miss. Mississippi Blood Services holds a competition each year between MSU, Ole Miss and USM.
“This is actually the 25th year of the competition in which the last five years Ole Miss has won, but we want to change that this year,” John B. Caraway, marketing representative for Mississippi Blood Services, said.
“Ole Miss is saying that they have no worries when it comes to winning. They truly think that they are going to win again this year,” Caraway said. “The Bulldogs are just going to have to show them that they are wrong.”
MSU’s regulations only allow blood services to draw blood on campus for one day out of each month.
“Currently, MSU’s regulations state that we are only allowed to draw blood on campus for one day out of each month. Ole Miss on the other hand, will allow their students to draw blood on campus for all three days of the competition,” Caraway said.
“On average, in the past MSU has 300 to 340 people attempt to donate blood, but only about 200 of those people were actually able to donate,” Caraway said. “Ole Miss has about 500 to 600 people attempt to donate, and 350 to 400 of those are successful donors.”
“The first day of the competition, October 9, will be held in the Colvard Union, rooms 301 and 302, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Oct. 10, blood services will relocate to Comfort Suites Conference Room on Russell Street, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Then, on Oct. 11, the blood services will be at Comfort Suites from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m,” Caraway said.
There are many reasons why students should at least try to donate blood.
The school that wins the competition will receive a scholarship that totals $2,000.
“This scholarship can be won by any student that comes in and tries to donate. Students that come in will be able to write their name down on a piece of paper for a drawing. Once we determine which school has won, then the drawing will take place,” Caraway said. “I would truly love to see this scholarship be given to an MSU student.”
“Also, everyone that comes in and tries to donate will be given a t-shirt,” Caraway said. “By trying to donate, I mean that you actually have to come in, fill out the paperwork and be tested to see if you are eligible to donate.”
“There are many more reasons than this. Currently, the state of Mississippi is on appeal. This means that blood supply level has fallen to where we are having trouble supplying our hospitals,” Caraway said. “The state of Mississippi is actually having to purchase blood from other states in order to keep our supplies up to where they should be. Hospitals are currently having to postpone non-emergency surgeries, because there just is not enough blood in supply.”
“Most people think that if a family member is injured, that they will be able to donate for that family member, which will never happen for the most of us,” Caraway said. “From the time blood is donated, it takes two days to be tested and shipped to the hospital. I recommend that you donate in advance so that one day if a family member or yourself is in need, then there will be blood in supply.”
“95 percent of all people in the U.S. by age 75 will have had a blood transfusion,” Caraway added. “Most people believe that the greatest amount of blood is used for accident victims, which is not true. The greatest amount of blood is used for cancer patients.”
“Approximately 60 percent of the population in MS is eligible to donate, but only about 4 percent actually donate,” Caraway said.
“99 percent of blood is already spoken for before it is even drawn in the state of Mississippi,” Caraway added. “In the U.S., every minute 27 to 28 units of blood are used, that is approximately 37,000 units a day.”
There are a few things that donors should do before attempting to donate.
“Donors should eat well the day before and for about two days after donating blood. Donors should get plenty of rest, and they shouldn’t drink alcohol or caffeine,” Caraway said. “Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body, and if a person donates blood after drinking, then that is only going to dehydrate them even more.”
“People can currently donate that in the past believed they could not. Diabetics, people with high blood pressure, and even people on medication can donate blood,” Caraway said. “As long as the person trying to donate has stable insulin levels and blood pressure levels at the time of donating, then they are perfectly okay to donate.”
“For students that are anemic, there are ways to increase iron level so that you will be able to donate,” Caraway said. “Vitamin C intake allows the body to absorb iron more easily. Students should eat foods with a lot of iron in them, such as, leafy green vegetables, seafood, red meat, chicken and turkey.”
Everyone should come out and try to donate, because with MS in shortage of blood, it is our duty to do what we can to help. It is also our duty to beat Ole Miss.
“Ole Miss is getting everyone involved. They have alumni and local residents involved as well that come out to donate every year. This is what I want to see in Starkville,” Caraway said. “Our only problem is that MSU’s date is before Ole Miss’ date to draw blood. MSU is going to have to set the standard so high that there is no way possible that Ole Miss can beat them.”
“I am a huge MSU fan. I practically have maroon blood; I want to see MSU beat Ole Miss this year,” Caraway added.