The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Paul Galuskin

Vampires are scary, ominous figures; Halloween-villains in dark capes wanting to “suck your blood.” The Student Public Relations Association used those frightful beings in its recent Halloween-themed blood drive co-sponsored with Community Blood Services, in Paramus.

The University Commons Multi-Purpose Room was filled with Halloween decorations. Unlike previous blood drives, this one had Halloween candy in one corner and horror films playing in the waiting area. 

Participants, including yours truly, a first-time blood donor, went through a three stage screening process.

Stage one: we were asked how we were feeling and if we ate breakfast.

“We must make sure people eat breakfast before they give blood. The process can be exhausting to some, and if they didn’t eat breakfast they may pass out,” said Ellen Weber, the Community Blood Services nurse in charge of the drive. 

Stage two: we were asked to fill out a simple two-page questionnaire asking medical history.

“This is to make sure all the blood is usable after donation,” said Weber. “If there is potential that we cannot use the donation it is better to screen people early then have a donation go to waste.” 

In stage three, a nurse’s aide reviews the questionnaire with the participant and pricks his or her finger to do an iron test.

“People with anemia (low iron count in their blood) cannot give blood as it is dangerous to their health,” said Angie Pere, a nurse’s aide.

Giving blood was pain free, yet I was a big chicken. Like many, I was always afraid to give blood. I could not bear to look as Pere was inserting the needle into my arm to withdraw the blood. By the time I thought she was just prepping my arm I had already started my donation. Ironically, as I saw the bag growing red with my blood, I was watching Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Psycho from across the room.

The whole process from screening to finish took an hour. The procedure was so easy, I found myself wondering why I had never given blood before.

Giving blood seems scary to some people, yet at this spooky Halloween-themed blood drive, I conquered a fear as silly as The Count on Sesame Street.

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