SIU’s last Blood Battle victory was in 1995. Although it is too early to determine which school will win the contest this year, Red Cross coordinator Vivian Ugent hopes this year will be different.

We really need for 1,000 people to come out, said Ugent. “We have tried to provide a variety of days, hours, and locations to make it more convenient for donors.”

The SIU-EIU Blood Battle was started in 1994 as a competition to increase awareness about the need for blood donations. This year, both schools hope to collect 1,000 pints.

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Southern Illinois is one of 22 regions in the country for which an emergency appeal for donors was made in January. The February drives are expected to replenish the area’s supply.

The Red Cross supplies blood to all area hospitals, but because of the shortage, blood was being transferred from hospital to hospital, and eventually a point was reached where demand exceeded the supply.

We recently had less than a half-day supply of blood, and our deficit was 4,100 pints, said Ugent. This region uses 1,000 pints a day, and, ideally, a two-day supply should be available at any given time.

“Because of the great need, we would like to see SIU set a standard for EIU and get the blood that is needed now.”

SIUC has the largest donor group in the area, and the blood drives held on campus are vital to keeping the area’s supply at a reasonable level.

Blood donors are needed not only locally, but nationally as well. Ugent cites several reasons for the national shortage, including extremely bad winter weather in the East and an influenza outbreak in the West.

Locally, the blood shortage is attributed to people taking unusually long holiday vacations in December and holiday breaks at colleges and high schools.

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Considering most people will be in need of a blood donation by age 72, every pint is crucial, said Ugent. Premature babies, cancer and surgery patients and accident victims all require blood donations.

Every donated unit of blood must be tested, making it imperative to have a supply of blood on hand.

Someone cannot just drive to the hospital and expect to give blood on the spot to an accident victim, said Ugent.

There are very few requirements to be a blood donor. In Illinois, donors must be at least 17 years old to give without parental consent and must also weigh at least 110 pounds.

It is also acceptable to donate blood while taking many forms of medication, including blood pressure medicine, aspirin, oral contraceptives, insulin, and certain antibiotics, said Ugent.

Ugent added that certain recovering heart and cancer patients can give blood and there is no upward age limit for donors.

People can donate blood every two months, so Red Cross officials encourage anyone who donated in November to come out and give again. They also encourage people to bring a friend.

If you come by yourself, a blood buddy can be assigned to you to hold your hand or offer support, said Ugent.

She added, however, that most first-time donors soon realize the experience is not as frightening as they anticipated.

It feels like a pinch, and it takes about 5 minutes.”

Dina Slavensky, a senior in history from Skokie, participated in the Blood Battle Tuesday afternoon at the Student Center. She said she has given blood ever since she was old enough.

“My mom always gave blood when I was young, and she taught me that it was a good thing to do,” Slavensky said.

Ugent said regardless of which college wins the Blood

Battle donating blood can be a very rewarding experience.

We really and truly feel there are no losers, Ugent said. The real winners, though, are the patients.

All donors will receive a Blood Battle ’98 T-shirt, and refreshments will be provided.