Youth Blood Donations

Youth Blood Donations
By CWK Network Producer

“I felt kind of good about myself, ‘cause I was like, ‘Hey, I donated blood.’”
— Maggie, 17

At Parkview High School students file into the cafeteria and wait their turn. It’s not lunchtime. The students here are donating blood at a local blood drive organized for students, by students. For many, it’s the first time. “[I’m donating] because I realize that donating isn’t that big of a deal and, like, to save a life is huge,” says 17-year-old Christina Mendoza.

According to the American Association of Blood Banks, less than a quarter of 17- to 24-year-olds donate blood and typically only give once in their lives. “Our generation is probably the most selfish generation,” explains 18-year-old Christopher Brown, a new donor.

Michael Saari, 17, agrees. “I think it’s mostly because they’re apathetic — they don’t care to — don’t care to take the time. But I think it’s still very important and those who do care should.”

Older Americans give blood an average of four or more times per year, and that’s why the Ad Council, along with the American Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks, is launching a media campaign targeting young people. “It’s a little bit about getting them to understand their own mortality, and that things happen to people, and that you’re not gonna live forever, and that people of all ages need blood and need blood products,” explains Grady Braziel, chief operating officer of the American Red Cross, Southern Region.

Some kids need to hear that message, and some kids already know. With “the disaster victims in Florida and all the other things that are going on in the world, I think [donating blood] is something that’s really important,” says Shailaja Bista, 17.

“It’s nothing,” adds Lily Copeland,17. “I can do this. I can do it, and I can help people.” Maggie Morrow, also 17, says, “I felt kinda good about myself cause I was like, ‘Hey, I donated blood.’”

Experts say parents can lead by example and by explaining to their children how blood saves lives. Says Mr. Braziel, “When you talk about this is life — this is about somebody’s life being saved, that speaks to all generations.”

Always A Time to Give

Approximately 60 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, but only 5 percent donate in a given year. Despite today’s technology, there is no substitute for blood in a life-threatening situation. Blood cannot be manufactured – the only source of blood is donors. As the population ages and medical advances require blood transfusions for new treatments and procedures, the demand for blood continues to increase. Also, blood supply levels are dropping because the group most dedicated to donating blood, the World War II generation, cannot give as much as they once did.

More than 26.5 million units of blood components are transfused every year. The typical donation is whole blood. (Specific components of blood, like plasma or platelets, can be donated through apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) donation.) Whole blood is separated into multiple components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitated AHF (antihemophilic factor). Generally each component is transfused to a different individual.

Sickle cell disease affects more than 80,000 people in the United States, 98 percent of whom are African American. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives. More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during chemotherapy. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. Consider the following:

• Established in 1940, the American Red Cross supplies approximately 45 percent of the nation’s blood. Founded in 1962, America’s Blood Centers is a national network of non-profit, local, independent community blood centers that collect about 47 percent of the U.S. blood supply.
• Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. More than 38,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day.
• Between 10 and 20 percent of hospital patients will need a blood transfusion.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• Each unit of donated blood undergoes 14 tests. Of these, 11are for infectious diseases.

What Parents Need to Know

Donors must at least 17 years old (16 in some states), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health to donate. You can donate red blood cells every 56 days. Those undergoing apheresis may donate more frequently.

Donating blood is safe. Blood is drawn with a sterile needle, which is disposed of after each donation. The actual blood donation takes less than 10 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes about an hour. The average donor has between 10 and 12 pints of blood in their body. Roughly one pint is given during a donation. In addition:

• One donation can help save the lives of up to three people.
• Persons between 17 and 24 account for 24 percent of blood donations, but they tend to give just once.
• People 55 and over make up 17 percent of donors and generally give four to six times a year.
• If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save over 1,000 lives!
• Those ineligible to donate, due to age requirements or medical conditions, can still help by volunteering for blood drives or even organizing one within their school, community or place of worship. About 80 percent of blood donations given to the Red Cross are collected at mobile blood drives.