Donate blood for college assignment

[daughtersrus]

My DD is taking a health/science class this semester. One of their assignments is to donate blood during the school blood drive next week. The assignment is worth 20 points.

Of course DD doesn't want to loose out on the points but I'm a bit nervous. The last time she donated blood was 2 years ago when she was in High School. I got a call from the nurse telling me that DD completely passed out once she returned to class. She fell off of the stool that she was sitting on (it was a ceramics class) and was out for quite a few minutes.

DD insists that she'll be fine but I'm worried. Her appointment is after her classes. She drives herself to/from school so I'm afraid that she'll end up in a accident on the highway coming home.

To me, it's just not worth the 20 points to DD it is!

I just don't agree with grading on an assignment like this.

 

[CF'er]

If she hydrates well all day and makes sure she eats prior then eats/drinks plenty in the canteen area after she should be fine. She should also mention this to the workers at the donation site.

 

[mamacatnv]

I'm with you OP - this IMO is not an appropriate assignment for which points should be given. Sure, encourage the kids, but adding grade points IMO is wrong.

 

[2binak]

I agree with the pp who said that your DD should tell the workers about her history of passing out. They will take some extra measures to make sure she's ok. She should have to sit in the blood draw area for at least 15 mins before leaving and they usually give donors cookies & juice afterwards too. She may have skipped this step when she last gave blood, resulting in her passing out.

FWIW, I don't agree with it being an assignment either. I have never weighed enough to be able to donate blood so I guess I'd be out the 20 points by default. I've always felt that donating blood is very important though and a few years ago, I was the recipient of blood so I truly understand the importance more than ever now.

 

[mickeylove2]

I'd be a little worried too, maybe she can have a friend drive her and hang out with her for a little while after. Are you close by? Maybe you could go with her. I doubt that I would like that as an assignment, what happens to the person who can't donate? I got a tattoo less than 1 year ago and I'm also anemic so I wouldn't be able to donate. What about the people who fall into the category of would love to donate but can't?

 

[sbsteel]

I had the same assignment back when I was in college. The professor was very accomodating for those that couldn't - if you tried, but weren't accepted (iron too low, low weight, etc) you were still given full credit as long as you showed proof. If you knew you couldn't even try due to pre-existing health conditions, he just asked you donate either your time to the Red Cross or donate orange juice or cookies.

Maybe her teacher/professor would be willing to accomodate something similar?

 

[DizBelle]

What if she is denied from donating blood for some reason - doesn't weigh enough, not enough iron, anything else they pre-screen for? Does she get the points for showing up and attempting but being turned down?

 

[Pigeon]

If I were your dd, I'd be talking to the prof, the department chair or the provost if need be. Requiring a student to hand over part of his or her body is completely inappropriate as an "assignment."

 

[Chuck S]

While donating blood is admirable, there should be an alternative option for assignment points. There are people who should not, or can not, donate blood. Without an alternative available, this is a disciminatory assignment and should be contested.

 

[Mermaid02]

And if you donate a KIDNEY you get 100 points!

What an inappropriate "assignment"

 

[ms1031]

While donating blood is admirable, there should be an alternative option for assignment points. There are people who should not, or can not, donate blood. Without an alternative available, this is a disciminatory assignment and should be contested.

I agree. I would find out what alternative options are for receiving full credit. They should be 1)free 2)give full credit and 3)taking said option should not involve having to divulge why the student is not donating blood.

 

[Becky2005]

What about the students that can't physically do it? I could see maybe doing it as extra credit or something but my DD would be so out of luck. She can not physically donate blood no matter how much she would want to.

I also know they always wanted my mom to donate her blood since she is AB- but she was always too anemic to do so.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My college dd tried to donate blood a couple of months ago. They would not let her. I guess you have to be 120lbs?

Inappropriate assignment in my book as well.

 

[hulagirl87]

hmmm..being forced to give blood in order to get a good grade. sounds like a good time to me I have donated blood twice and had bad reactions both times. Though it is a good thing to do, I won't do it again, and it seems unfair to make it seem like a necessity in order to get 20 points.

 

[glitterkittyy]

It is also against some religions to donate blood (at least one I can think of). Perhaps your DD should ask the instructor if she could do an assignment for the credit instead. She could do a bit of research and write a one-page paper or something.

 

[Becky2005]

My college dd tried to donate blood a couple of months ago. They would not let her. I guess you have to be 120lbs?

Inappropriate assignment in my book as well.

Really? Around here it is 100 pounds. Our HS has blood drives all the time. You have to be 16 & 100 pounds to even attempt to donate. No assignment points have ever been assigned to it. I think they gave you a freebie something like a lanyard. I don't remember because DD wouldn't qualify. I just remembered reading about it & I know it was the 100 pound cut-off because we asked TWICE for her to donate her own blood for herself & the doctor refused to write the order as she was under the 100 pounds.

 

[RachelEllen]

I also wanted to point out that this assignment is bad public health practice. The professor should know better. They don't pay people to give blood anymore for good reason. Any inducement increases the risk that a high risk individual will donate. I may be out of date, as I haven't been able to give in years due to my "Mad Cow" risk, but when I last donated you were excluded if you were a sexually active gay male. Is this still the case? Don't you think some kids might lie about this or some other sensitive topic (pay for sex?) rather than risk not getting the points. It's a really bad idea.

 

[pixiegoose]

While I think the idea behind the assignment is admirable, it's an unfair assignment. I tried to give blood in college and they didn't want it because I committed the unpardonable sin of living in Europe and thus obviously have mad cow disease. I just checked the criteria on the Red Cross site and I'm still ineligible to donate. I think there should be an alternate way of earning the points for those that can't donate.

 

[ladycollector]

What a terrible idea for an assignment. I don't even weigh enough to give blood; I guess I'd get a zero.

 

[disfan07]

I'll be the voice on the other side here and say that

I think the assignments fine as long as they are given an alternative or are exempt for being denied or for pre-existing conditions.

I'm in college right now...I would not have a problem with that assignment BUT I would also most likely not being allowed to donate under doctors orders.

Has she talked to the professor? Thats the first thing I owuld suggest to do. Most of the time, professors are willing to work with the students IF they talk to them. If she doesnt talk to him until the day of teh assignment, he is probably not going to be as understanding especially since she knew beforehand.

My question is...does she know that there is not an alternative assignment? Volunterring...a paper...something? Has she asked? If she hasnt talked to the professor, than she does not know if there is something else she can do.