NIU will host a set of blood drives next week to benefit patients in community hospitals and also to help the situation in the Persian Gulf if it becomes necessary.

The Heartland Blood Centers of Aurora will sponsor three separate blood drives that will be held around campus during that week.

The first drive will be at Stevenson Towers North Jan. 21 and 22 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Another drive will be held at Founders Memorial Library on Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. The last chance to donate blood will be at the Holmes Student Center in the Capital Room on Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Heartland Blood Center is on call if it becomes necessary to send blood to the Persian Gulf, said Sheri Ransford, a local recruiter for the blood center.

The center is responsible for collecting 375 pints of blood each day to send to community hospitals, and if war does break out, they are required to send a percentage of that blood to the Middle East, Ransford said.

“We are in desperate need for blood, especially with the threat of war in the Persian Gulf that might require us to send blood,” she said.

Donating blood is usually a three-step process. When people give blood, they must register and fill out forms giving some personal information about themselves.

A nurse then gives donors “mini-physicals” by taking body temperatures, blood pressures and routine blood tests. The nurse also asks a few questions about personal medical histories.

The actual taking of blood usually takes about five to seven minutes. Afterward, the donor is encouraged to rest and stop at the refreshment table before leaving.

“The first time I donated, I was really nervous about actually going through with it,” said Stephanie Schmidt, an NIU junior and recent blood donor. “But afterwards, it turned out to be pretty easy and I would welcome the opportunity to do it again.”