ISU and Ames community members lined up even before the doors opened Monday to kick off the spring blood drive.

The drive, “Are You My Type?” is part of National Red Cross Month.

“It started off with a bang,” said Casey Waechter, general co-director of the blood drive. “We had a line at 9:45 a.m., and the blood drive didn’t start until 10 a.m.”

Turnout was steady throughout the day, Waechter said. She said there were 363 donations Monday, surpassing the first-day goal of 350.

“We set 2,230 pints of donated blood as our goal this semester. If we reach that mark, it’ll be the record number of donors we’ve had from Iowa State,” said Katie Bruxvoort, co-director of public relations for the blood drive.

A new feature that may bring in more donors to this year’s blood drive is “Professional Day.” Professionals are invited to donate blood Thursday and avoid waiting in lines. They can call and reserve times to donate between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

By adding “Professional Day,” the blood drive committee hopes to include more of the Ames community and make the event seem less exclusive to Iowa State, said Tiffany Hartkemeyer, general co-director of the blood drive.

Coordinators of the event also brought in food and entertainment to keep those waiting to donate from getting bored.

Several prominent, local personalities will be stopping in at the blood drive throughout the week, Hartkemeyer said.

Wednesday, Dean of Students Pete Englin and Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco are planning to stop by, Bruxvoort said.

ISU football coach Dan McCarney and several Cyclone football players are scheduled for Thursday.

People donating blood should take a couple of steps to prepare themselves, Hartkemeyer said. The general rule is to eat within four hours of donating. Donors should also keep hydrated both before and after donating.

Aside from the free food and drinks, every donor has a chance to win prizes like food coupons, gift certificates and tanning minutes, Hartkemeyer said.

Many residence halls and greek houses are competing to give the most donations, Waechter said. Some classes are offering extra credit for donating and volunteering, as well.

“When you take time out of your day and donate blood or even volunteer your time, it’s making an impact on someone else’s life,” Bruxvoort said. “It isn’t often that you have the chance to put out such little effort and have the opportunity to save someone else’s life.”

The blood drive is taking place through Friday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.

Spring blood drive

Where to donate blood this week: Great Hall of the Memorial Union

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday

Requirements: Donors must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Donors must also wait at least 56 days between donations and 12 months after getting a tattoo before donating. Conditions that require a temporary deferral include pregnancy, travel to certain parts of the world, some health conditions and certain medications.

Tips for a positive donation experience:

• Get a good night’s sleep the night before the donation

• Have a good breakfast or lunch

• Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume of blood you will donate

• Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow

• Show the staff any “good veins” that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood

• Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for a few hours after donating

• If you feel light-headed after donating, lie down until the feeling passes

• Eat iron-rich foods like red meat, fish, poultry or liver, beans, iron-fortified cereals, raisins and prunes before the donation

• Avoid fatty foods like hamburgers, fries or ice cream before donating.

How the donation process works:

1. Register by reading about blood donation and completing a form about demographics and basic health information. Donors will be asked to show a form of identification during registration, as well.

2. A health professional will ask health history questions and check the donor’s temperature, iron level, blood pressure and pulse.

3. Blood is drawn.

4. Donor is then encouraged to spend a few minutes relaxing and eating or drinking the refreshments provided.

The entire blood donation process takes about an hour from registration to the time the donor leaves the blood drive.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, but only 5 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood each year. Healthy donors are the only source of blood.

— Information compiled from the ISU spring blood drive Web site, www.stuorg.iastate.edu/bd/home.htm and the Give Life American Red Cross Web site, www.givelife.org.