SCHOOL BLOOD DRIVE PROGRAM SETS RECORDS AGAIN
Nearly 7,000 blood donations help patients survive accidents and life-threatening illnesses
NEWARK, DE - Students on Delmarva reached a new milestone this school year - and it's one for the record books.
Seventy-five high schools and colleges across the Peninsula held more blood drives this past school year than ever before, resulting in a record number of blood donations. A total of 6,909 blood donations were collected at 119 school blood drives from September 2008 to May 2009 - up nearly 3.5% from 6,684 donations the previous school year.
"Students help plan and promote the drive, recruit donors, set up equipment, and serve refreshments in the canteen during the blood drive. The rapid growth and success of this program show that teenagers and young adults do care about the community and want to help," said Lauren Bacon, the Blood Bank's school program coordinator.
School blood drives consistently contribute 8% of all the blood donated on Delmarva. The program started in 1984 with just 140 donations at two schools. Today the program is critical for attracting students to become lifelong blood donors. Currently less than 7% of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35. By giving first-time donors a good experience, the Blood Bank hopes to reverse this trend.
Students, their families and friends can continue to give blood and get credit for their schools in the blood drive competition this summer by giving blood at any Blood Bank location through August 31, 2009.
