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16-Year Olds Can Now Donate BloodPOSTED March 28, 2005 NEW YORK -- In a partial effort to build up what has become a chronically low blood supply in New York, the New York State Department of Health has granted New York Blood Center a variance to existing state regulations that permits donations for the very first time from 16-year- old donors in New York. Parental consent for the 16-year-old donor to attend a New York Blood Center drive is required. New York joins six other states (California, Oregon, Washington, Ohio, Illinois and Iowa) that accept donations from 16-year-olds. Donating blood at age 16 versus the previous entry point of 17 "introduces young people to a unique form of community service," explained Dr. Robert Jones, New York Blood Center President & CEO, "and one that we hope establishes a life-long donation pattern." Initial pilot results from March 2005 pilot drives at nine Queens and Long Island high schools saw donations climb by 53%. "Thirty-one percent of those donations were from first-time, 16-year-old donors," Jones added, which is about twice the typical first-time donor rate at blood drives. "We estimate that 16-year-olds could contribute up to 10,000 blood donations each year, helping New York Blood Center reduce its chronic blood shortage and get closer to our goal of self sufficiency," concluded Dr. Jones. New York Blood Center must import approximately 50,000 pints of blood each year from other U.S. blood centers to meet the local community's need for transfusions. Aside from the parental consent to attend the blood drive, all 16-year-old donors will also have to meet Food & Drug Administration donor criteria, including a minimum weight requirement of 110 pounds and general good health. They will also be screened for markers of viral diseases, as is required of all blood donors. Information about abnormal test results will be sent to the parents or guardians of 16-year-old donors. These young donors will also receive the same mini medical exam and information about their temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and hemoglobin level that is given to all donors. High schools interested in hosting an onsite blood drive are urged to call New York Blood Center at 1-800-933-BLOOD. New York Blood Center, serving New York and New Jersey, is the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood center. With the support of five regional operations*, New York Blood Center has been collecting and providing life-saving blood transfusion products and services for the greater NY/NJ community since 1964. |
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