National Red Cross Month has been celebrated every March for over 80 years. Red Cross Day, held on March 18, was the date chosen for the Red Cross Club’s first blood drive of the academic year, drawing more than 20 students who were able to proceed. The day also included tabling events to spread the word about the Red Cross Club.
Larianna Joseph, a junior kinesiology major and president of the Red Cross Club, joined as a first-year and worked her way up to the highest position, serving as event coordinator prior to her current role. She joined the club because of her interest in service and healthcare, seeking to become a physical therapist in the future. She was happy with the turnout of student donors, despite the challenges that prevented people from donating, such as high pulse or low hemoglobin levels.
Joseph acknowledged the difficulty of donating blood, especially to the college-age group, citing the common fear of needles as a major barrier preventing students from donating. Over 60 students attempted to donate.
“I would just recommend that people think about why we’re doing this,” Joseph said. “There are people out there [who] truly do need blood transfusions. So, if you can make a difference, why not do it?”
Min Thuta, a junior public health and health sciences double major, serves as the vice president of the Red Cross Club. This role consists of organizing activities, member outreach and administrative duties like logging club activity hours and attendance.
“We wanted to bring Red Cross Day on campus [for] a greater outreach [beyond] the confines of our club,” Thuta said.
Beyond Red Cross Day, the club also hosts other events related to health advocacy, disaster relief and community health. Past and current examples include free CPR/AED training, naloxone workshops and fire alarm installs.
“Blood drives [and other events] spread a lot of awareness on things that most people don’t really think about in their day-to-day,” Thuta said.
Suneeta Kercood, the faculty advisor for the Red Cross Club, has been in this role for over 15 years. She is a professor of special education and board-certified behavior analyst, as well as a paramedic and EMT. Her grandmother was a part of the Red Cross, and she has been volunteering with the organization for decades.
“It’s nice to see students who are proactive in community service and have a connection [with healthcare],” Kercood said.
In her work with the Red Cross, Kercood has traveled to respond to emergencies like Hurricane Sandy, tornadoes and building fires. She encourages students to know basic safety and precautionary measures in case of an emergency.
“[The Red Cross Club has] been very enthusiastic about conducting many activities at the university in partnership with their class,” Kercood said.
Thuta and Kercood both pointed out the possibilities of volunteering in the greater Indianapolis area that joining the Red Cross Club can open up. Joseph recommended following the club’s Instagram page and Engage, where communication will be sent via email or post.
“It’s a great club,” Kercood said. “I encourage all to be a part of it.”