NOTE: The next American Red Cross blood drive in Ada is Thursday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ohio Northern University in McIntosh.

By Alli Walbolt, Icon intern

Each year in the United States, 5 million patients need blood and every person who gives blood can save three lives. However, the American Red Cross has had shortage of blood donations recently and needs more people to give.

Only 7% of people have the blood type O negative, the universal donor, and only 38% are eligible to give blood. These statistics make it hard for patients to find a donor, which causes many of them to have to wait and suffer the consequences.

Kyla Hemphill, a pharmacy student at Ohio Northern, has given blood seven times in her life. She is enthusiastic about giving blood and hopes to inspire others to do the same.

“I like the idea of being able to save lives every time I do it because I can’t save lives any other time,” she says. “It’s a nice way to give back and get good karma.”

The process for a donor is typically pretty easy.

• First the Red Cross staff will sign you in, give you a sticker and information on donating blood.

• Then, they will ask you about health history, and check certain health levels, such as blood pressure, and iron level.

• If you are eligible to donate, it only takes 8-10 minutes for a normal blood donation.

• Afterward, you will be offered refreshments, which are highly recommended, and you can leave after about 10-15 minutes returning to daily activities.

• Some people may be anxious about donating either because they don’t like needles or don’t know what to expect. The American Red Cross’s website goes into detail about what a first time donor may experience and since the staff is trained, it doesn’t usually take long or hurt much.

Kyla says, “I hate needles; I’m terrified of them,” but she still gives blood every chance she has.

Some things to keep in mind before donating are to eat foods high in iron, sleep well, drink plenty of water, and eat healthy. Also, “don’t drink too much iced tea,” Kyla warns. It causes a low iron count, which makes a person ineligible to donate blood.