Pharmacy students sponsor blood drive on UH Hilo campus

Student pharmacists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Pharmacy sponsors a blood drive from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday, January 23 in Campus Center 301 on the UH Hilo main campus. Free parking passes are available to community donors on a limited basis from the front campus entrance on Kāwili Street.

“This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties across the state, and it exemplifies the sense of community responsibility we have for promoting public health,” said Jack Fernandez, third-year student in the College of Pharmacy. “We are pleased to continue helping with this critically important community service.”

This is the third annual blood drive done by student pharmacists at UH Hilo. According to statistics from the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi, up to 60 percent of people in Hawaiʻi will need blood sometime in their lives, but only two percent donate.

“Many people don’t realize the huge impact just one donation can make,” said second-year pharmacy student Keshia Mahi-Leopoldino. “Many first-time donors are scared and that’s expected, but when these donors sign up for another donation, it becomes life-changing.”

This year’s goal is 125 pints of blood. Donors need to be at least 18 years old, in generally good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and skin should be free of piercing, tattooing, or other punctures (professionally-done ear piercings are acceptable) for one year. Other eligibility requirements may be found at www.bbh.org.

The drive is a collaboration between the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) student chapters, along with the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact (808) 933-7663.