Students making the Sept. 27 morning C-Train commute noticed the Symposium Room in SAIT’s Campus Centre being converted into what looked like an impromptu lab.

Canadian Blood Services was on campus. They did well too—receiving 65 units of blood.

“What you’re giving is so much more valuable than money—you’re effectively giving somebody a second chance at life,” said Kirsten Breen, community development coordinator for Canadian Blood Services, in an interview with The Weal.

It isn’t just students donating, there is always a healthy turnout of staff members as well, according to Breen.

SAIT students and staff have a right to be proud. We have given more blood to date than Mount Royal University, and are right behind the University of Calgary; well on track to meet our goal of 500 units this year. As of Oct. 15, SAIT has donated 382 units of blood in 2012, with Mount Royal University at 302 units, and the University of Calgary at 455.

This is partially due to SAIT running “Life Bus” shuttles to the Canadian Blood Services downtown location, outside of the four clinics held on campus as part of SAIT’s “Partners for Life” commitment on the part of students, staff, and faculty, to give blood. The life buses run every 56 days – as often as you can donate blood.

Students don’t often have cash to spare, so aside from volunteering, we don’t have much to give back, but one thing we can all give is blood. With just under six litres in our body, we can always spare some—Canadian Blood Services will accept one unit every eight weeks. One unit refers to 455ml—about the same size as your morning coffee.

It may not seem significant, but to some, it’s everything. According to Canadian Blood Services’ website, 52 per cent of Canadians say either they or a family member have needed blood for a medical procedure.

“Without blood donation, my dad wouldn’t be here today,” said Lora Zerebecki, a first-year SAIT journalism student, reflecting on the heart surgery her father underwent when she was in her teens.

The next clinic is Nov. 22 in SAIT’s Symposium Room. To book an appointment, call 1-888-2DONATE or visit www.blood.ca. If groups of students wish to organize a life bus, they can contact Kirsten Breen at 403-410-2746 for scheduling.