Published: November 20, 2009 09:49 pm      

Teens with parental consent can give blood

It’s a benchmark experience. You’ve turned 16.

You can drive. You can make more of your own decisions.

And you can give blood.

However, there are some things to consider before performing this life-giving service.

According to Scott Hill, donor recruitment representative for the Red Cross’ Appalachian Region, selection criteria now include a table based on height, age and weight to determine which young people are able to donate.

“Most students have a good donation experience and feel good about donating,” Hill said. “Some people may experience light-headedness or dizziness or an upset stomach, but those symptoms usually go away quickly.”

Charts published by the American Red Cross list the donation criteria for young people, Hill said.

“The best thing to do is call the donation center closest to you and schedule a time to go in. The staff will see if you meet the height and weight restrictions and explain the whole process to you.”

A high school student recruitment committee has formed to encourage young people to become volunteers and donors.

“In order to provide the safest possible donation experience, there have been some changes to the high school blood drive process,” Hill said.

Teens are trained for their volunteer roles, and their presence helps encourage other teens to participate, he said.

“It can be scary to donate blood the first time, so if teens see some of their peers volunteering and they can talk with them, it’s much easier,” Hill said.

Teens must have par-ental consent to donate. Parental consent packets are available by calling Hill at 540-580-3908.

For more information about teen blood donation or participation in a high school student recruitment committee, call toll-free 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit arcgiveblood.org.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com