Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. have teamed up with Hunt County Red Cross for a campus blood drive November 15th. Hunt County has experienced a blood shortage recently.  On average it takes an hour to donate blood, and it can help save up to three lives. “This amazing opportunity was presented to me by one of my sorority sisters. We host them every semester because of shortages in the summer”, Kappa Delta Chi member Vivianna G. said.

• Bring your donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification.
• Staff will need to know about any prescription and/or over the counter medications that may be in your system.

• The entire process takes about one hour and 15 minutes;
• The actual donation of a pint of whole blood unit takes eight to 10 minutes.
• However, the time varies slightly with each person depending on several factors including the donor’s health history and attendance at the blood drive.
• You will spend a few minutes enjoying refreshments to allow your body time to adjust to the slight decrease in fluid volume. 
• After 10-15 minutes you can then leave the donation site and continue with your normal daily activities. 
• They have a shelf-life of up to 42 days. A healthy donor may donate every 56 days.
• The plasma from your donation is replaced within about 24 hours. Red cells need about four to six weeks for complete replacement. That’s why at least eight weeks are required between whole blood donations.
• You must wait at least eight weeks (56 days) between donations of whole blood and 16 weeks (112 days) between double red cell donations.
• Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
• Donors who are confirmed positive for any infectious disease are notified and have the opportunity to receive counseling with a specially trained, professional Red Cross donor counselor.

Don’t forget to save time the day of your donation by completing a RapidPass at www.redcross.org/rapidpass to finish the pre-donation reading and healthy history questionnaire before your appointment; this is required in order to donate. The Texas A&M University-Commerce campus blood drive will be Tuesday, November 15th at 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. in the Same Rayburn Student Center Conference Room C, 2200 West Neal Street, Commerce, Texas 75428.