Everyone is familiar with the phrases “Give Blood. Give Life,” and “Commit for Life,” which are displayed on T-shirts worn by adults and teenagers everywhere. On Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 9 and 10, SHSU students, faculty and staff will not only have a chance to give blood, and therefore, life, but will also have the chance to thank the United States Armed Forces for all they do to protect and serve.
All blood collected in the drive hosted by the SHSU Army ROTC will go to wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with the help of the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP).
The goal of the blood drive is to provide clean, quality blood to soldiers overseas.
“It’s hard to get blood [in Iraq and Afghanistan],” Cadet Poust, a member of the Bearkat Battalion, said.
In some cases, according to the ASBP’s website at http://www.militaryblood.dod/mil, over 40 units of blood are needed for an injured soldier.
On average, one person donates one unit. For these reasons, the ROTC program hopes to have as many people as possible participate.
“It’s one more thing we can do to help [the soldiers] out,” Cadet Poust said.
Donors must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. They must also not have any tattoos, must not have served in Iraq or Afghanistan recently due to malaria threats, and cannot have lived in Europe, due to threats of mad cow disease.
The drive will take place on Feb. 9 and 10 in the LSC Ballroom from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.