With the annual Blood Drive coming soon, USC has been working tirelessly to make changes in order to increase participation. For the last couple of years, a speaker from the Red Cross has come in to give a presentation, however, that hasn’t had the greatest turnout. Junior Niko Liepins and his fellow council members realized it was time to change something. 

“This year, instead of having that presentation, we are making little quizzes surveys to send out to advisories. It will become a mini advisory competition and whoever gets the most correct answers might be in the running for a prize,” Liepins said. “This way, we will be engaging the students, and helping them learn about the Blood Drives and everything they need to know if they’re going to donate.”

The quizzes and digital informatics are going to also benefit in another way. They will also be informing students on the Red Cross’ Blood Donation Eligibility Requirements. 

“One of the problems that’s been plaguing Blood Drive participation is, while we have plenty of people signing up, many of them are showing up the day of unqualified,” Liepins said. “There are myths that you shouldn’t eat before donating blood, but that makes them ineligible to donate. Also, they sometimes just didn’t drink enough water beforehand. You know, preventable things like that.” 

There are also more specific requirements involved that aren’t such an easy fix. Meeting these prerequisites are enforced to ensure the safety of both patients and donors. The Red Cross has different rules for each donation type: Whole Blood Donation, Power Red Donation, Platelet Donation, and AB Elite Plasma Donation. 

“Some people didn’t fit the height and weight requirements, or maybe there are certain travel restrictions hindering their eligibility. To help mitigate that, we’re making more engaging ways —through quizzes, especially— that will help inform those people who will be donating.”

The Drive has also made a drastic shift in location: to the Driscoll Family Commons. 

“Over the past few years, USC has been holding the Blood Drive in the small gym. The unfortunate part [about the small gym] is that it’s not a very welcoming environment, especially when you’re in a vulnerable position, like giving blood.” Liepins said. “The other benefit of having the Blood Drive in the Driscoll family Commons is that it makes it easier for the Red Cross to load in and out easily, as it previously wasn’t so easy to reach the gym. Now, loads will be much easier and much more efficient; and it also takes away the unnecessary work that we had been putting on the Red Cross.”

This year, the Blood Drive will be in February. Keep a look-out for the new quizzes and competitions regarding the Blood Drive that will be preceding it.