Bleed Red Week organizers are optimistic about turnout at this year’s fourth annual blood drive competition between the U and Utah State.
For Dan Lauritzen, the assistant director of the Associated Students of the University of Utah service board, the competition is a way to generate some enthusiasm and help an important cause.
“It’s a competition between the U and Utah State, but the real winners are the people in need,” Lauritzen said.
ARUP, the organization that provides blood for Salt Lake City area hospitals, is running the drive in cooperation with the U. Brian Burton, community relations director for ARUP, noted the significance of donating blood in this drive.
“ARUP is the sole blood provider for four area hospitals: the University of Utah hospital, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Primary Children’s Medical Center and Shriners Hospital for Children,” Burton said. “Those four hospitals require about 25 percent of the blood transfused in the state of Utah.”
Last year the U lost the blood drive competition by only 13 pints, and the narrow margin of defeat in last year’s contest has Bleed Red promoters excited about the U’s chances of victory over Utah State this year.
“If everyone can tell 13 people about the event, it will really help out,” Burton said. “We want to win, and we expect to win.”
One donor, a senior English major, put herself in the shoes of those in need.
“If I were ever in a situation where I would need (blood), I would want it to be available to me,” she said.
In past years the U increased the number of donors, and Burton expects the same this week.
“Last year we tripled the number of units collected from the previous year. We’re hoping that this year’s event will be a huge success,” Burton said.
Lauritzen has an ideal number he would like the U to reach in order to win against USU.
“Last year we collected 719 units of blood,” Lauritzen said. “Our goal is over 1,000 units.”
The drive needs approximately 1,400 people to show up, because sometimes not all who want to donate are able to. Donors must meet stringent criteria to keep the blood supply safe.Before being allowed to donate, a donors’ medical history is checked and the donor must pass a mini-physical, which includes blood pressure, pulse and iron tests, said Bill Snow, lead technician for ARUP. ARUP will continue to take donors at their stations around campus until 5 p.m. Friday night. Stations have been set up at the Union, the LDS Institute of Religion and the Heritage Center. The results of the competition will be announced during halftime at the U’s football game against USU on Sept. 10.
“We will have two minutes during halftime to present a trophy to the winning school and share the overall success with those attending,” Lauritzen said.