More than 220 Eastern students and faculty made their way over to the University Ballroom to drain a pint of blood from their body Tuesday to help save lives.

The blood drive was sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega for the American Red Cross. The goal was to have 150 people donate blood.

The requirements for giving blood include being in good health, at least 110 pounds, 17 or older, and not being on antibiotics, said Bryan Miller, associate professor of biological sciences and the Eastern blood drive committee advisor.

The donating process takes at most about an hour and there are only a few steps involved in doing so.

Donors had to fill out a history form on their medical background and were screened to determine their iron level, blood pressure and temperature. Then they went through the blood donating and were given juice, sandwiches and cookies afterward.

“The whole process took me about forty-five minutes,” said Megan Flickinger, a senior secondary education/physical education major. “There is nothing to be afraid of, everyone has gotten shots before, and they (Red Cross) all know what they’re doing. So why not?”

The blood donated will go to many hospitals throughout Illinois and Missouri.

The next blood drive is on November 19.

“Eighty percent of the population can donate at any given time,” Miller said. “Only five percent donate at any given time, so there is lots of room for improvement.”