Waldorf hosts its first blood drive of pandemic

By Joseph Halverson

On Feb. 25, 2021, Waldorf University held a blood drive, sponsored by Red Cross in the atrium. 

This has been a reoccurring event on campus as the university has had a blood drive for several years now. This was the first blood drive Waldorf has had since the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world in March of 2020. 

This means Red Cross, as well as Waldorf University, had to take more precautions when holding this event.

One of the most effective ways the Red Cross avoided people who may have been in contact with COVID-19, was through RapidTest which can be found on their website.

The RapidTest is a questionnaire where it will ask a potential donor a series of questions. These questions ask about contact with COVID-19 positive cases, as well as possible symptoms and health backgrounds.

Using these questions, Red Cross can better avoid encountering the virus. Waldorf donors were required to fill out this form prior to donating.

Marissa Gates was in charge of organizing the event for Waldorf.

The event had several people donate, both Waldorf students community members. Gates stated a little over 30 people donated in the five hours in which the event was held.

Gates also shared how the RapidTest was not only effective in making the event safer, but it also was able to shorten the time donors had to spend on campus. 

“I talked with some students that were donating blood for the first time,” Gates said. “Their fear was needle but once they were done, they said it wasn’t the bad. The American Red Cross did an amazing job making sure we were all safe, especially in a time of COVID.”

Gates was grateful for those who donated blood.

“Thank you to everyone that donating blood and volunteer to work it,” Gates said. “The day couldn’t have gone as smoothly and successful as it did without everyone’s support and help.”