ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE 'A GALLANT EFFORT': CENTRAL FALLS SHORT OF OLD RECORD BUT PLEASED WITH EFFORT

Central High School didn't break any records with its annual blood drive Wednesday, but students said they were content knowing their efforts could help to save more than 1,300 lives.

"It feels good. I feel good about myself," said Nicole Ferden, a high school senior and second-time blood donor. "I think it's cool that a lot of people told their parents about it and they actually came out."

Ferden was one of 428 students, School district staff members and others who participated in the school's attempt to break the state record it set in 1991. Of that number, 337 people donated productive units of blood to the American Red Cross blood collection effort.

More than a third of the donated units came from first-time donors.

"They were 26 short of the record, but it was still a gallant effort," said David Palmer, donor recruitment representative for the Southeast Missouri Area American Red Cross. "Of all the donors, 141 were first-time donors, which is a great thing for us, as we hope these people will continue to give blood throughout their lives."

Each unit of blood collected can be broken down to make blood products that save up to four lives. While area blood supplies are at normal levels, collection problems at one or two blood drives can quickly mean low supply levels at area hospitals, which is why donors should plan to give regularly, Palmer said.

T-shirts, lottery drawings and extra credit from teachers were just a few of the incentives provided to build participation in the event.

"Last year I did it for extra credit. I didn't get extra credit this year, but I did it anyway," said Ferden.

Cape Girardeau resident Mary Kistner learned of the blood drive from a family friend and participated because "it's a good thing to do and it doesn't require much effort."

Jim Maginel, who was one of the last donors of the day, read about the event in a school newsletter and decided to participate.

Downside to body art

Some students speculated that the popularity of tattoos and body piercings accounted for more students being unable to give blood. The Red Cross requires people to wait a year after piercings and tattoos to be eligible for blood donation.

Some athletes who participate in spring sports also avoided the event because blood donation can reduce energy levels for several days afterwards.

Palmer said the school's blood drive is the largest one-day effort in the 15-county area he covers and will account for one-fourth of collections taken from some 37 blood drives this month.

Despite the failed record-breaking attempt, Central did win challenges received from high schools in Carbondale, Ill., and Marion, Ill., where school-sponsored blood drives collected about 260 and 270 units, respectively.

With so few of the school's 950 students meeting the age requirement for donation, the school must appeal to the public to make up the difference. Palmer said the school's success with the blood drives is phenomenal, especially considering its size and a state minimum age requirement that mandates donors be at least 17 years old.

Many states, including Illinois, permit blood donations beginning at 16 years old.

"These guys take the extra steps and extra commitment to make it something special," Palmer said. "If you put us in comparison in Illinois, we'd pick up another 100 donors just with the lower donor age."