By Maria Marroquin
The blood drive from Huntington Hospital mobile units was held last Wednesday and Thursday.
These mobile units allow three people to donate blood at the same time.
The purpose of these mobile units is to facilitate the process of donating blood, to make it more efficient for the hospital and for the donors.
Tina Gunn, representative from Huntington Hospital said 85 percent of their blood donations are obtained through their mobile units.
They try to go out at least four times a week to Disney studios, different schools, YMCA’s and other places around town with the mobile units.
Gunn said she has been a registered nurse for years and she has been in the position of manager for about a month.
“I love it. I like talking, conversing and educating healthy people on how they can help unhealthy people,” said Gunn.
The process of donating blood takes about 40 to 50 minutes from filling in paperwork before donating blood to staying on the premises for 15 minutes after donating.
“People in the communities are not aware of the need. They put it off or they don’t [donate] because they’re afraid. The process isn’t that bad,” Gunn said.
They also try to be proactive at getting people to donate as much as possible to maintain blood supply without having to buy it from the Red Cross said Gunn.
Karen Ramirez, a student at East Los Angeles College said she donates blood every time she gets a chance and she usually does it in the blood drives held on campus.
“I donate so I could save people’s lives. A lot of people don’t do it because they’re not informed or because they can’t do it,” Ramirez said.
“I always do research. I research things like how many people have been saved through blood donations, the hospital and their history because it’s important to be informed.”
Lindsey Bridges, a helper from Huntington Hospital said he started working with them because of the job opportunity, but he said these mobile units help communities to save lives.
Huntington Hospital’s mobile units come to ELAC every three months. The next blood drive will be on March 18 and 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the main quad.