Call it “James Blunt for Blood” or maybe “Pussycat Dolls for Plasma,” donors at the American Red Cross’ Tuesday afternoon blood drive got free pop music downloads while saving a life.

OUS nursing major Heather Pemberton, 24, said that the “thank you” gift of free music downloads from the Red Cross was a nice bonus, but for her, the real gift is giving life.

Pemberton said she gives every year, but, the thin girl admits, she still has the occasional problem with passing out after her donations, not that it deters her.

“If I pass out, I’ll get over it in a day. But with one pint of blood, they can give it to so many people,” Pemberton said as she sipped a soda and recuperated from her donation. “It helps. I feel good … and if I don’t pass out, I feel even better.”

After Pemberton’s blood is drawn, it will be transported to the nearest satellite office in Huntington, W.Va. From there, it will head to the regional office in Johnstown, Penn., where it will distributed to several different states.

Typically, each donated unit of blood — known as whole blood — is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Each component can be transfused to different individuals with different needs. In fact, each donation can be used to help save as many as three lives.

That’s a lucky thing, as Red Cross employee Melissa Marcum said that the group, as always, is running low on its blood supply.

“I think it’s two things,” Marcum said. “I think people are afraid of needles, but also people just don’t have time to come in anymore. Everybody’s always working, then you have kids’ things … everybody’s always busy.”

Perhaps not surprisingly considering these schedule constraints, Marcum said that most donations of blood come from high school students, who often are excused from classes to give.

Mashawna Hamilton, part of the nursing faculty at OUS, said that the university students were no slouches either, with around 30 donations about four hours into the drive, which was sponsored by the school’s Student Nurse Association.

“It’s a community service, you’re doing your duty as a citizen,” Hamilton said.

“People don’t think about it until they need the blood, or someone they love needs it, but if you wait that late, then there’s no time to donate. You never know when it’s going to be you that needs it, or someone that you love.”

More information about the American Red Cross’ needs, as well as a schedule for upcoming local blood drives is available at www.givelife.org.