This Saturday, the Michigan football team will take the field against Ohio State to compete for its first Rose Bowl trip since 1993. With Michigan in the running for its first national championship since 1948, excitement about the game is at a high. Even before the kickoff, blood will be shed - but not on the football field. This week, even non-athletic University students will have the opportunity to defeat the Buckeyes in the annual Michigan vs. Ohio State blood battle.
Today and tomorrow is the last chance during the drive for students to donate blood. The Red Cross Bloodmobile is stationed at the Michigan Union between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. today and between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. tomorrow, or students can make an appointment by calling 994-9588. The drive, which is sponsored by Blood Drive United, ends on Friday.
The blood battle gives all University students a chance to save lives while helping defeat an archrival, although the University has not won the competition since 1991. As of Monday, the University was leading the campaign, with 874 pints of blood to OSU's 753. The combined goal for both schools is 2,300 pints; although the drive started off slowly, it is now picking up speed.
But the real reason to donate blood has nothing to do with school spirit. Although victory over Ohio State is a bonus, the true goal of the competition is to help save lives. One pint of blood can save up to four lives. In this region, about 1,000 pints of blood are used every day. The area frequently experiences crisis shortages and must rely on emergency drives to replenish blood stores. The blood supply in southeastern Michigan is currently quite low; more blood donations are necessary. Without these donations, the Red Cross will have to import blood from another area.
Donating blood is an easy, harmless and relatively painless procedure. There are no health risks; new, sterile instruments are used for each person, and the Red Cross volunteers who extract the blood are well-trained in the procedure. In addition, pre-donation blood test results are strictly confidential. The process takes about one hour. The only requirements are that donors must be older than 17 years of age and weigh more than 110 pounds. It is also recommended that donors eat a good meal before giving blood.
Every University student who can give blood, should. The majority of students fulfill the requirements for potential donors, and all should be able to sacrifice the hour it takes to make a donation. Although most students are usually pressed for time, they should make time to contribute to the Red Cross' worthy quest.
The blood battle is an excellent way for University students to help save lives - and gain a victory over Ohio State in the bargain. If all eligible University students donate blood, the Red Cross would fulfill its supply goals and thousands of people needing transfusions would benefit. In the end, regardless of which school collects more pints, in this contest everyone is a winner.
11-20-97
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