By SIERRA LISSICK

Photographer, UAS Whalesong

Twenty-four pints of blood were collected at this year’s annual blood drive on the UAS campus in early March. 

When donating blood, it is important to have stable vitals, be a certain height and weight with normal iron levels. Student Brandy Mulbury found this out first hand when she attempted to donate in the past, like last year in her hometown of Petersburg. 

“The blood bank even stayed open late for my friend and I to come after band practice, but I had to run there and I couldn’t get my pulse down, which was really disappointing,” Mulbury said.

Previously, mobile sites were the only way a person could donate blood in Juneau. 

The Juneau center of the Blood Bank of Alaska opened on Jan. 4 with two chairs for people to donate whole blood. Blood banks have operated in Alaska since 1962, primarily in the Interior and Southcentral Alaska. The Juneau center is  8800 Glacier Highway, in the Jordan Creek Center. It is the only one in Southeast Alaska. 

Sepelini Nanu was a phlebotomist at the UAS event.

“You save three lives, and that’s probably the best thing you can do to help the community,” Nanu said. “This is one reason why people choose to donate.” 

Appointments can be booked by calling 907-222-5630 or at  www.bloodbankofalaska.org/schedule-donation.