On Oct. 16, students filled the lower level of the Conference Center between 11a.m. to 5p.m. to be pricked, stabbed, and drained of their blood. Members of the Red Cross were busy collecting blood as Southwest Minnesota State University oversaw another successful blood drive.

Paige Swenson, coordinator for this year’s blood drive, was particularly happy with the results.

“It was a really good turnout,” Swenson said. “[It] definitely beat last year’s numbers!”

The 144 time slots for donating were filled within the first two weeks of sign up. Student walk-in rates were high as well.

Students have probably heard the Red Cross say, “Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.” Did you know that only 38% of U.S. population can donate? Out of the eligible 38%, only about 10% actually do donate their blood.

People with O-negative blood are in demand as their blood can be transfused to others with all blood types.

Donating is a safe and simple process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments. Each donor will be assured that the needle used to draw their blood is sterile, and discarded after their donation.

Blood donation at SMSU happens twice a year. The next drive is currently scheduled for April.