The Power of Life
Real World Educational Workshop High School Event
More than 250 students kicked off their high school blood drive season at this year's Real World Educational Workshop. The two-day clinic brought together students from throughout the Texas Gulf Coast to learn how they, too, can lead strong and successful blood drives this school year.
The event held at Memorial Hermann Hospital included several mini-sessions designed to engage the student volunteers in the blood donation and recruitment process. To further involve the students, groups were asked to create their own Commit for Life video. The winner of this challenge will have their video debuted on The Blood Center's Power of Life MySpace page, www.myspace.com/poweroflifetx.
To see how their donations truly helps save lives, students were then invited to tour Memorial Hermann's facilities, including the trauma unit and the Life Flight operations.
As young life-savers, these high school students' blood drives account for 20 percent of The Blood Center's mobile blood drive collections each year. Through the Power of Life program, students are introduced to the donation process today and encouraged to continue making a commitment to donate in the future.
16-Year-Olds Eligible to Donate
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is taking another monumental step to help increase the blood supply in our region. As of May 1, 2007, The Blood Center accepts whole blood donations from 16-year-old donors with their parents’ consent (see below for forms). By becoming a blood donor, 16-year-olds are showing great civic responsibility, maturity and a sense of community pride by saving up to three lives with one donation.
To be eligible, individuals who are 16 years old, 122 pounds, are in general good health and receive permission from their parents or guardian can donate blood. At this time, donations from 16-year-old donors are limited to only whole blood donations. Of course, individuals who are at least 17 years old, 110 pounds and in general good health also can donate.
Please Commit for Life by donating at least once every quarter, and spread the word letting your friends and family members know about this new opportunity.