RAND Energy Team member and blood donation veteran Jim Marcinek pumps up the volume with a double red blood cell donation.
On #GivingTuesday (Dec. 3), RAND got into the spirit of giving by opening our doors—and our veins—by hosting our very first blood drive. Our multipurpose room was pushed to its maximum capacity as the American Red Cross crew set up their stations and welcomed RAND employees as well as altruistic walk-ins. Many of our donors were first-timers, including RAND President Stephen Varone, Principal Peter Varsalona, and Chief Administrative Officer Christopher Walsh, who led the way.
For the uninitiated, donating blood is fairly straightforward: It starts with a basic patient history and current health status. During the interview the phlebotomist checks blood pressure, temperature, and iron levels to ensure they are within a safe range for the person to donate. Once cleared, the donor settles into a blood draw station and is prepped. The donation itself takes about five to 10 minutes to draw a unit of blood (about a pint) and six sample vials. The vials are tested for suitability before the unit is cleared for use. After the draw is complete, the donor is treated to beverages and snacks.
Our blood drive collected 19 units, including one donation of double red blood cells. Not bad for our first time! For photos of our happy donors, check out the photo album on RAND’s Facebook page.
As part of our RAND Gives Back campaign, RAND plans on hosting future blood drives. Even a fear of needles (for some of us) can’t stop us from reaping the rewards of giving!
