What to Expect When You Donate Blood for the First Time

A graduate of Oregon's Crescent Valley High School, Cody Gotchall is pursuing a degree in business at Chemeketa Community College. Since he was in high school, Cody Gotchall has donated blood to the American Red Cross.

As much as potential donors might want to support a great cause, not everyone is eligible to give blood. Donors must be at least 17 years old in most states, although some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent.

Blood donors must also be in good general health and weigh at least 110 pounds. To improve hemoglobin levels in advance of a blood donation, donors are encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet with foods high in vitamin C and rich in iron, such as red meat, fish, and spinach.

Upon arriving at a blood donor clinic, individuals are asked to sign in, present identification, read required information, undergo a general health check, and answer some private interview questions. The blood donation process takes less than 30 minutes, after which donors are given a snack and a drink in a 15-minute resting period. Blood donors need to wait at least 56 days before they donate again.

Longtime Oregon State Head Coach Pat Casey Announces Retirement

An accounting major at Chemeketa Community College, Cody Gotchall previously studied at Oregon State University (OSU). A passionate baseball fan, Cody Gotchall enjoys watching OSU Beavers games and is a fan of former head coach Pat Casey.

After winning back-to-back College World Series titles in 2006 and 2007, Casey won his third championship with OSU this past summer to conclude his 24-year career with the team. Casey, who announced his retirement in September, led the Beavers to five conference championships and 12 NCAA tournament appearances while posting a career record of 900-458-6. 

This past season, Casey's team won 55 of 68 games en route to sweeping the regional and super regional rounds. Ultimately, the Beavers defeated Arkansas in the best-of-three College World Series finals. 

In an emotional press conference, Casey attributed his retirement to the fact that he's unsure if he could continue giving the same effort that he expects of his players. Despite no longer serving as the team's coach, Casey will continue to work at OSU as a senior associate athletic director. In honor of Casey and his accomplishments, the newly installed right-field deck at Goss Stadium will be named Casey's Corner.