Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Chaminade Life > Blood Bank Gives Life

Blood Bank Gives Life

Brandon Figueiroa, Co-Editor Arts and Entertainment

Giving or aiding those in need is considered a moral action, and at Chaminade University, such upright behavior is encouraged.

Working with the Blood Bank of Hawaii, which will be on campus in April, is the perfect opportunity for students, faculty and staff to help out.

The Blood Bank of Hawaii is a non-profit organization that provides blood to 19 civilian hospitals throughout Hawaii. The blood helps in many ways, ranging from surgical procedures to cancer treatment, anemia and even helping in the delivery room for mothers and babies.

Information about the Blood Bank is available via fliers on campus, and some professors even encourage students to donate — some even using it as incentive for extra credit to increase the number of donors.

Trish Castro from the Student Activities Office said that she hasn’t had any reports of lower numbers contributing to the Blood Bank, although some possible donors have been denied in the past because they had either recently traveled out of the country or had new tattoos or piercings.

“There are also the cases where students are just afraid of needles,” said Castro.

“I don’t think twice about donating,” said one Chaminade senior who asked that his name not be used in this article. “It’s not like I wake up in the morning and say, ‘I’m going to save someone’s life today.’”

The university’s current Blood Bank goal is forty pints.

The next blood drive on campus is April 8, though it is unclear whether or not a “blood mobile” will be here (the Blood Bank has two mobile vans at its disposal). Not to fret, the Blood Bank will be setting up an in-house donation area on campus, location pending.

For more information on the Blood Bank of Hawaii, visit www.bbh.org or call at 845-9966.