Programs Help Build a Blood Donation Generation

American Red Cross offers youth programs

Students today have more power than they think. And it’s a power that comes from within.

By becoming involved with blood donation activities, students from elementary through high school have an opportunity to effect change by helping to save lives.

“We want kids to know they can make a huge difference in the world,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross “And by becoming a Red Cross blood donor or volunteer, and by encouraging adults in their lives to do the same, they can make the difference of a lifetime.”

The Red Cross offers a variety of programs for engaging youth. Programs like Pint Size Heroes and Heroes in the Making help build awareness and provide blood donor recruitment opportunities among elementary and middle school-age children. And high schoolers have an opportunity to sponsor blood drives at their schools, form Red Cross clubs, and to donate blood if they are eligible.

Baby boomers and the WWII generation make up more than half of Red Cross blood donors. But with time, more people who now give may need blood products for medical care. American Red Cross statistics reveal that people 69 and older account for 10 percent of the population, but use about 50 percent of all blood transfused. Expectations are that those percentages will increase—exponentially—as baby boomers age.

“America simply needs more donors from younger generations to step forward and commit to building and maintaining our nation’s blood supply,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. “Engaging kids early on is a great way to build awareness and get them involved in the act of giving. It’s all about passing that baton to the next generation.”

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:

• Thursday, Feb. 16, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 402 E. Indiana Ave. in Kouts.
  
• Thursday, Feb. 16, from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Valparaiso University School of Law, located at 656 Greenwich St. in Valparaiso. Please go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “vulaw” to schedule your blood donation appointment.
  
• Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Porter County Career Center in the Health Education Classrooms, located at 1005 N. Franklin St. in Valparaiso. Come to donate and receive a Sports First Aid Kit.
  
• Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 3:15 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. at Willowcreek Middle School in the All Purpose Room/Café, located at 5962 Central Ave. in Portage. This is a Heroes in the Making blood drive.
  
• Wednesday, Feb. 29, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Community Room, located at 509 W. Division Road in Valparaiso. This blood drive is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Indiana and Ohio), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to supplying nearly half of the nation’s blood, the American Red Cross teaches lifesaving skills, provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization—not a government agency—and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

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