For most, blood donations aren’t a priority until they need it.

EC’s blood drive, hosted by the Inter-Club Council (ICC) in conjunction with Cedars-Sinai, concluded March 13 in the Student Activity Center, East Lounge.

“I like to think of it as giving back” Joy Mo, 18, who chairs the event, said. “A lot of people say [that] they want to do something good for other people. This is such a convenient way.”

Organizers of the blood drive hoped to surpass last semester’s milestone turnout.

“Last semester we saw 517 potential donors and collected 449 pints, which I understand is a record for El Camino,” Cheryl Berlow, blood coordinator at Cedars-Sinai, said. “[We’d like] to either match that this semester or go beyond.”

In order to procure more donors, the ICC set up a recruitment table on the library lawn.Volunteers at the recruitment table answered questions students have concerning the blood drive.

“You get to save lives,” Berlow said. “There is no substitute for blood. If you’re in any kind of auto accident, or if someone in your family has cancer, or for an emergency surgery, there has to be blood in the community blood supply.”

Past attendees chimed in, and advertised the benefits of donating blood while allaying people’s fears.

“[It’s] a good experience. You can save up to 3 lives,” Daylyn Love, 19, biology major, said. “People say you might feel dizzy… I never had that problem… as long as you eat and drink water you’ll be fine.”

“I had a fear of needles before,” she added. After donating, her fear was extinguished.

Organizers advised potential donors to follow a few precautions.

“[Student should] eat a good breakfast, get some sleep, [and] stay hydrated,” Mo said.

Additionally, all donors must be 110 pounds and in good health to participate, Berlow said. Registration is online at www.givesblood.org, but “we will take walk-ins happily,” she added.

Although the primary focus was helping others by donating, donors also by evoking positivity within.

“[You] get this really feel good vibe,” Mo said. “It’s a domino effect.”

Tuesday, March 11 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 13 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.