Sandwich boards with "imagine saving a life" splayed across them can be found across the campus. It seems like something that can only be imagined, but sometimes the imaginary is closer to reality than it might first seem.

Blood is in short supply; a hospital can go through more than 900 units in one day. Every two seconds, someone in the United States will need blood. In western Washington, most of the blood comes from donors through the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC), at both their donor centers and mobile blood drives.

Blood is used for multiple purposes, including trauma, burns, surgery and long-term, life-threatening illnesses, such as sickle cell anemia and leukemia. A minimum of 800 people need to donate each day through the PSBC in order to meet the demand, as there is no substitute for blood.

"Patients don't have time off," said Madeline Haydon, a donor resource representative for the PSBC.

Despite the acute need for blood, only 10 percent of the total population eligible for blood donation actually gives this life-saving resource.

Blood can be broken down into eight different groups; O- is the universal donor and is often given to those who come in with trauma wounds. All blood types are in a constant demand, however, especially for those who need long-term transfusions.

The PSBC is trying to encourage people of color to give blood. Generally blood compatibility is not based on race, but some subtypes can exist within ethnic populations. Patients suffering from sickle cell anemia (a disease affecting mostly blacks) often need a close match in blood. This is minimized when the donor is of the same ethnicity as the recipient.

Only 10 percent of the total donors, however, are people of color.

People don't give blood for many reasons as people do. Some people are simply not eligible, because in order to give blood one must weigh at least 110 pounds, be free of illnesses (such as colds and flu) and only donate every 56 days. Other reasons for ineligibility include new piercings, tattoos and traveling outside the United States.

All of these are based on established rules by the Food and Drug Administration, which governs the safety of blood donation both for donors and recipients.

Many of the regulations created by the FDA, who tend to be conservative, are designed to reduce the risk of illness in the blood supply. All blood is tested after donation, though; 16 tests are conducted that look for HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. The result is that almost all the blood donated can be used and there is little risk of the transmission of infections to the recipients.

Many potential donors are hesitant to donate for several reasons, especially fear, said Tosha Gibson, a PSBC phlebotomist (a technician trained to draw blood).

Many people are afraid of needles, are worried about the pain or are concerned about the safety of the process. Giving blood is a safe process. Only sterile and disposable equipment is used, making the risk of disease transmission negligible.

"Eat a good meal two hours beforehand, drink plenty of water and remember it's not as bad as [you] think," Gibson said.

Others have had bad experiences when giving blood.

"I don't give blood anymore because of the tremendously terrible time I had, [but] I encourage everyone to give blood.When done properly, it's relatively painless and simple," freshman Quinn Majeski said.

According to the PBSC, almost 80 percent of first-time donors will continue to donate throughout their lives

"Try it once," Haydon said.

PBSC maintains that blood donation is a simple way to give back to the community, with the potential to help save up to three lives. Once donated, the blood is split into three components: red blood cells, given mostly to trauma patients, plasma, for burns, and platelets for cancer and leukemia sufferers.

For those who can't give blood, there are other ways to get involved.

"Talk to friends," Haydon said. "Many people don't give blood because they haven't been asked."

Other ways include helping to organize a blood drive, volunteering with the PSBC or simply baking cookies for a local drive.

"I give blood like it's going out of style, which, incidentally, it never will," junior Rob Whitehead said.

Blood drives are typically held on campus every three months.

[Reach contributing writer Lauren Bond at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]