The St. Mary’s Hospital’s Bloodmobile will visit campus from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday near the MavPav.
Regular and first-time donors are welcome to the Bloodmobile. Before arriving, volunteer donors should have eaten, be well hydrated and in good health.
For some people, giving blood has become a habit.
“Some begin while they’re in high school,” St. Mary’s Donor Recruiter Jill Breman said. “Our biggest donor had given more than 34 gallons over 40 years.”
Donors may give blood as often as every eight weeks.
According to Breman, only 5 percent of Americans give blood. The Bloodmobile visits businesses, churches and schools in hopes of increasing that percentage. St. Mary’s, and western Colorado needs 15,000 pints of blood per year.
“Donating blood is a way for faculty, staff and students to be good neighbors in this community,” Director of Media Relations Dana Nunn said.
Breman said she has seen resident assistants bring groups of students from the residence halls to the Bloodmobile.
The facility is equipped to accommodate small groups. Individual donor reviews are conducted in two private rooms. Blood is drawn from as many as four people at a time. In the waiting and recovery area, donors are treated to juice and a snack.
A person can usually complete the donation process in less than 45 minutes. During that time, the donor’s blood pressure, temperature, pulse and iron levels are checked. A blood sample will be tested for hepatitis, HIV and syphilis. Results are confidential and the donor is notified of any positive results. Donors also learn their blood type.
For more information on the Bloodmobile, visit http://stmarygj.org/stmarys-bloodmobile.

mbarger@mavs.coloradomesa.edu