HOUSTON — The Office of Student Activities at the University of Houston-Downtown partnered with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center to hold a blood drive from June 7 and 8.
The event took place in the university's White Oak Room, starting from 11 am to 3.30 pm. Donors were asked to register online.
There are plenty of benefits when donating blood, and one donation can save up to three lives. A single blood donation can be divided into three components: the plasma, platelets, and red blood cells.
Plasma is often required to restore fluid for burn and trauma patients. Platelets could help recover from cancer and bone marrow transplant. Lastly, red blood cells are utilized to treat cancer, surgery, and trauma patients.
Blood donation also provides benefits for the donor. For example, it could prevent hemochromatosis, a health condition that arises due to excess iron absorption by the body. The procedure helps lower the risk of cancer, as a blood donation maintains iron stores in the body at healthy levels. It can also reduce the risk of heart and liver diseases.
June 14 is the World Blood Donor Day. If you're interested in joining the next blood drive in the city for the first time in your life, you should first consult your doctor to avoid complications. On the day of the donation, make sure to stay well hydrated and wear comfortable clothes during the process.
To find a blood drive near you, visit https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html or call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule an appointment.