Six hundred and forty two lives were saved due to all the blood the students of Cerritos College donated.

The American Red Cross hosted its annual spring blood drive in the Student Center on last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Senior Field Manager for the Red Cross, Rob Torrez, said that as of Wednesday, 155 pints of blood had been collected.

“One pint of blood saves 3 lives. Cerritos College students have a strong commitment to saving lives by donating blood. We have about 30 blood drives a year just at Cerritos,” Torrez said.

By the end of the blood drive, 214 pints of blood were collected; 80 on Tuesday, 82 on Wednesday, and 52 on Thursday.

Students were able to sign up but walk-ins were also welcomed.

Tech Joan Choriego said, “We are here because we are a blood bank and want to help others in need of blood like people who have been in accidents.”

Cancer patients have a low count of platelets in their blood and need donated blood to get them said information technology major Manuela De Leon.

Torrez said that the requirements for donating blood are simple.

Students who donate blood must be 17 years of age, weigh over 110 lbs., have lived in America for the last 3 years and be in overall good health.

If a child is 16, he needs to have a parent’s permission and must be at least 110 pounds.

“However if the donor is sick they cannot donate even if they just have a cold,” said De Leon.

She stated, “Blood is being used every second and we need more blood because there is always a shortage.”

Although the last day of the blood drive was rather slow and less students were donating, she was still pleased with the turn out.

“Overall, we had a good turn out,” she said.

The myth about not being able to donate after getting a tattoo is untrue.

Choriego stated “If you have a tattoo, you would have to wait a year until you will be able to donate.”

While waiting in line to donate blood, nursing major and first time donor Brianna Buffington said, “I’m donating because I know that if I needed it, or if my children needed it, or anyone I love needed it, it’d be available to them.

I know that there’s a shortage. I have a rare blood type and it’s good to know that I can help save a live just by doing this.”

The blood drive is also a contest among the clubs on campus.

The club who donates the most blood will get to have a party and will be awarded the Crystal Drop Award during the spring student services awards ceremony.

Students who missed the blood drive can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to find another blood drive near them or they can wait for the Summer Warped Tour Blood Drive when students who donate blood can enter for a chance to win passes to the popular music festival, Warped Tour.