Blood Drive Tops Goal

Though this year's Red Cross blood drive has garnered more pints than efforts in the past two years many donated more than just blood: some gave up two hours of their time as well.

Red Cross volunteers attributed the delays to lacks of space and staff.

"We've only had nine technicians today," said blood drive Head Coordinator Julia A. Hunter' 96 "We hope to have twelve technicians tomorrow; and really on a day like today we need to have twelve. Then hopefully it would go to a lot faster."

Volunteers collected 145 pints yesterday, 20 pints over the goal for the day.

Hunter said the lack of sufficient staff may have been due to Harvard'S December blood which was comparatively unsuccessful.

"[In December] we didn't even come close to meeting the goal any day," Hunter Said "But that was probably due to the virus."

"After a drive like that, the Red Cross doesn't want to send as many technicians because they feel it might not be productive," Hunter added.

Red Cross nurses have also cited the lack of space in Boylston Hall's Ticknor Lounge as another reason for yesterday's delays.

"Unfortunately, we only have so much equipment and staff that fits in the space we're allotted ," said Red Cross Nurse-in-Charge Joy Augenstern.

"So no matter how diligent and well staffed we are, we can only move so many people through in any given period of time."

But the delays meant a loss of some volunteers who could spare blood, but not time.

"Yesterday I think we had about 10 or twelvepeople walk out who couldn't stay," Augensternsaid.

Both students and staff singled out the healthhistory procedure as being particularly sluggish.

In a time-consuming process, donors arescreened for their blood iron levels, temperatureblood pressure and blood irregularities, Huntersaid.

"Our [main] problem has been up at healthhistory," Hunter said. "There was a long waitbecause we only had three technicians up there.But we're working to get a fourth one."

Currently two of the health history techniciansdevote their efforts to those who have made aprior appointment to give blood.

Only one technician remains for "walk-in"donors--Hunter said the system thus far has provedrelatively ineffective, with too many appointmentsscheduled for short periods of time.

Hunter said appointments only saved donorsbetween 15 and 30 minutes.

"The wait was too long," said Thomas R. Sheehan'96 "I think that everyone who worked here wasgreat--but they need to organize a little better."

"Last time I didn't have an appointment andeverything went fine," Sheehan added. "But thistime I waited twice as long."

Red Cross volunteers, however, insist that theaverage waiting time has actually been decreasingin recent years.

"I've been doing this for over two years andit's a lot better than it used to be [in terms ofwaiting]," Hunter said.

"During my freshman and Sophomore years therewere times when people were laying down on theground sleeping for hours," Hunter said. "Therewere definitely people in past years who waitedhere for three hours."

Hunter advises that students come before 2p.m., when lines are much shorter.

"I've donated before and I kind of know what toexpect," said Kathryn E. Cunningham '95 "If youcome in the afternoon there will be a line. Butyou know they're working as fast as they can."

According to Hunter, those who brave the linesand needles are automatically registered in araffle for "Interview with a Vampire" posters andrubber rats autographed by author Anne Rice

"Yesterday I think we had about 10 or twelvepeople walk out who couldn't stay," Augensternsaid.

Both students and staff singled out the healthhistory procedure as being particularly sluggish.

In a time-consuming process, donors arescreened for their blood iron levels, temperatureblood pressure and blood irregularities, Huntersaid.

"Our [main] problem has been up at healthhistory," Hunter said. "There was a long waitbecause we only had three technicians up there.But we're working to get a fourth one."

Currently two of the health history techniciansdevote their efforts to those who have made aprior appointment to give blood.

Only one technician remains for "walk-in"donors--Hunter said the system thus far has provedrelatively ineffective, with too many appointmentsscheduled for short periods of time.

Hunter said appointments only saved donorsbetween 15 and 30 minutes.

"The wait was too long," said Thomas R. Sheehan'96 "I think that everyone who worked here wasgreat--but they need to organize a little better."

"Last time I didn't have an appointment andeverything went fine," Sheehan added. "But thistime I waited twice as long."

Red Cross volunteers, however, insist that theaverage waiting time has actually been decreasingin recent years.

"I've been doing this for over two years andit's a lot better than it used to be [in terms ofwaiting]," Hunter said.

"During my freshman and Sophomore years therewere times when people were laying down on theground sleeping for hours," Hunter said. "Therewere definitely people in past years who waitedhere for three hours."

Hunter advises that students come before 2p.m., when lines are much shorter.

"I've donated before and I kind of know what toexpect," said Kathryn E. Cunningham '95 "If youcome in the afternoon there will be a line. Butyou know they're working as fast as they can."

According to Hunter, those who brave the linesand needles are automatically registered in araffle for "Interview with a Vampire" posters andrubber rats autographed by author Anne Rice