By Shivani Khanna
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Monday, May 15, 2006, The OG, news

You've probably seen the “Things to Do” checklist on the signs hanging in the hallways reminding you to wash the car, return movie rentals, go to the bank, and donate blood.

Those Uni High students who are 16 years or older and weigh 110 pounds or more will have the opportunity to check off that final item by donating blood Wednesday between 8 a.m. and noon.

Student Council, which sponsors this annual event, urges students to volunteer their time (about 45 minutes) and their blood (about one pint) to a good cause.

“You can save three people's lives by giving one donation, so I think that sacrificing 45 minutes of your time is worth it because, in the grand scheme of things, you'll be doing a good thing by helping those three people,” says Student Council president Rovieza Irfan.

Community Blood Services of Illinois, which conducts the drive, will have its bloodmobile parked in the yellow zone on the west side of Uni's main building.

The actual donation takes only five to 10 minutes. The additional time is for a health history screening, a mini-physical, and refreshments after the donation, according to CBSI.

The donation process consists of four steps:

• Completion of health history questionnaire and screening interview.
• Brief physical examination (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) and test for anemia.
• Drawing of one unit (about one pint) of blood from donor if medical requirements are met.
• Serving of refreshments while donor remains seated for 10 minutes.

StudCo secretary/treasurer Nuole Chen notes that CBSI “only needs about 20 units of blood from Uni High [20 people] because we're a small school.”

She adds, “We're hoping to surpass their expectations and donate a lot more.”