The Central California Blood Center held a mobile blood drive at Fresno City College on Feb. 11, the organization’s first campus visit of the year.

Two collection buses pulled onto campus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. so students could donate blood at their convenience.

Blood drive supervisor Elaine Cantu said the CCBC had hoped to collect 80 units within the two buses for the day but she revised her prediction to 120 units after a fast start.

“For every unit we collect, we save three lives,” Cantu said.

Within the first two hours alone of the blood drive, technicians collected an estimated 79 units between the two buses. Due to the busy pace, CCBC phlebotomists didn’t have time to talk with a reporter from The Rampage.

 The phlebotomists made their way back and forth from donor to donor to make sure procedures were going smoothly, warning donors of the possible dangers of giving blood. For example, if donors started to feel light-headed or dizzy, they were urged to let one of phlebotomists know immediately.

Technicians gave donors apple juice, cupcakes and other desserts that would increase the donor’s blood sugar.

With a full bus, FCC business major Virginia Beamer waited her turn in line to donate.

“I always donate,” Beamer said. “Just in case I get in an accident, I know I have some on reserve. I’ve been donating blood here at FCC for the past two semesters and I also give at the blood bank.”

FCC student Martha Acosta also waited her turn while the phlebotomist tended to other donors.

“I’m giving blood because I had a friend who had cancer and died from it. So when she died, all of us gave blood,” Acosta said. “I encourage everyone to give blood because it is a good thing to do.”

The CCBC has collected blood from donors at FCC since 1999 and visits campus three times a year, once in the fall, once in the spring and once in the summer.