CAMPUS NEWS - Durham College and UOIT

By Lynn Wayling
Chronicle Staff
We have approximately five
litres of it in our bodies. It accounts
for seven to eight per cent of our
body weight.
Each beat of our heart sends
it travelling do wn a highway of
valves, ventricles, arteries and
veins. And approximately every
minute of every day, someone in
Canada needs a transfusion of it to
stay alive.
The demand for blood is high,
but the supply is low.
According to Canadian Blood
Services (CBS), 900,000 donations
are needed per year to meet hospital
demand for blood in Canada.
Last year demand for blood grew
by two per cent, the highest increase
in 10 years.
To keep the donor pool thriving,
CBS needs roughly 90,000 new donors.
Durham College and UOIT
students and staff have the chance
to make a dent in that number by
signing up for a donor clinic being
held on campus March 20.
While all healthy individuals
over the age of 17 are able to donate
every 56 days (barring those
who have had recent dental treatment,
tattoos or piercings), the
majority of individuals don’t donate
for a variety of reasons.
Nick Shopian, a student in automotive
engineering, reasons
that he often does not know when
the clinics are occurring.
“Recently I have been either
committed to something or have
not found out about blood donor
clinics until they have passed,” he
says.
Agreeing with this is Laura
Herdman, in legal administration.
“I never know when one is happening
and you have to call and
book appointments a while ahead,
which is kind of a hassle.”
But for Jaspinder Jassal, a journalism
student, the reason concerns
nerves and a common fear
of needles.
“I have a huge fear of needles
and a huge fear of blood. When
I see blood I feel faint and nauseous…I’d
rather donate by giving
money.”
Will she ever donate? “Maybe
one day. Though I’m not sure if I
can get over my fear.”
But Sue Harris, CBS community
development co-ordinator for
Durham Region, says nerves are
common among donors.
“Everybody is nervous donating
for the first time. Everybody.
And most people are nervous for
a few times after that. It’s the unexpected,
right?”
But Harris stresses that the
result outweighs the process, “It
CAMPUS NEWS
is Ruby Richards (centre)
from the Humane Society.
a needle. However I’m sure that
everybody knows somebody who
has had cancer.
When they are getting treatment
what they have to go through
is huge compared to what you go
through when donating blood.”
The length of time the needle is
in the arm is between five and 15
minutes and that unit of blood collected
can save three lives.
Safety and sterility is also an issue
with some people.
But Harris stresses the donation
process is completely safe
and that Canadian Blood Services
follows regulations meticulously.
The Chronicle March 17, 2009 23
Donate the best gift ever: life
“You cannot catch anything
from donating blood. Everything
is one-time use.
Everything is sterile. We follow
very strict guidelines. People
should not be afraid of donating.”
A regular blood donor since
2006, UOIT nursing student Bobbi-Lee
Lawrence agrees the donation
experience is safe and not as
scary as it can seem.
“The staff (at the clinic) is really
good about wearing gloves, and
you see them open the equipment.
You also have numerous opportunities
to change your mind about
donating.
There is no obligation, even
after you’ve signed up and been
Photo by Lynn Wayling
GIVING IT HER ALL: UOIT nursing student Bobbi-Lee Lawrence is a regular blood donor. Canadian Blood Services
will be holding a blood donor clinic on campus March 20.
Students raise huge donation
By Michael Flynn
Chronicle Staff
The Humane Society of Durham
Region got a boost of $3,664
thanks to a fundraiser by secondyear
Public Relations students at
Durham College.
Janel Haight, Iman Saad and
Olivia Harmon organized the
fundraiser as a way to raise money
for a trip to Ottawa.
It also served as an assignment
for their program.
“We chose the Humane Society
as the recipient of the
proceeds because they need a
permanent facility after the previous
one was lost in a fire,” said
Harmon.
“It’s been great, the number of
people who have been coming
forward to express their support
for everything that we’re doing,”
said Ruby Richards, manager of
the Durham Humane Society.
Originally a fundraiser for
program-related activities, the
event held at the Thirsty Monk
in downtown Oshawa aimed to
raise $825, but easily surpassed
that amount.
There was food, entertainment
and door prizes.
Guests participated in a raffle
draw, silent auction and a 50/50
draw.
“We had a lot of support of
friends, family and random businesses,”
said Haight.
“We knew we would have extra
because we sold over 200 tickets
at $10 a piece.”
The Thirsty Monk donated the
bar for the event.
Donated prizes included two
Leafs tickets, two digital cameras,
theatre tickets and a complimentary
one-week rental of an RV.
A total of $4,489 was raised.
Photo by Janel Haight
BIG BOOST FOR SOCIETY: Durham College students
present a cheque to the Humane Society. From left,
students Olivia Harmon and Janel Haight, Ruby Richards
from the Humane Society, student Iman Saad,
Thirsty Monk owners Antoine Albis and Julian Albis.
given your paper work.”
If you are hesitant about donating
blood or unsure of the process,
Lawrence suggests observing the
donors in front of you.
If it’s your first time giving blood,
the staff will usually be extra attentive
to you.
“The staffs at the clinics are really
compassionate. They make
sure you are not having any concerns
and you can ask as many
questions as you want. When it’s
your first time donating they usually
stay with you and sit on a chair
with you while you’re actually
donating. And you don’t have to
watch (the needle). You can look
away.”
So why does she donate?
“I think it’s a really rewarding experience,”
she says. “Partly because
I am in nursing, and I just like to do
things to help out. It’s only an hour
of my time every 50-some-odd
days. A little bit of my time is nothing
compared to someone being
in an accident and dying (without
blood).” she says.
“I have type O negative blood
so anyone can receive that blood
type. So if it’s an emergency, they
don’t have to cross-reference my
blood because if it’s just a transfusion
anyone can have O negative
blood.”
Those who are interested in
donating blood for the March 20
clinic in the east gym or a future
clinic in the community can call
1-888-2-DONATE or go to www.
blood.ca.
A new permanent clinic will
open in April at 1300 Harmony
Road North. The clinic will be open
Tuesday through Saturday.
Harris, however, is hoping
that the clinic on campus will be
the biggest one yet and gives her
thanks to everyone involved.
“With the growth of the school
and so many new students, I know
we can collect over 100 units. Donating
is really so easy.”