STUDENTS AIM FOR BLOOD DRIVE RECORD

Central High School students hope to enjoy good food and prizes, break a state record and maybe even save a few lives this summer with blood collected at the school's annual blood drive being held today.

The school's 20th annual blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the old gymnasium. Successful donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have given blood in the past six weeks.

The event is open to the public.

The Student Senate, which sponsors the annual event, has targeted a 1991 state record for school-sponsored blood drives that was set at Central High School. An all-out campaign -- including promotional efforts for the past month, T-shirts for every donor and special prizes throughout the day -- are being used to ensure enough donors participate to best the record of 362 units of blood.

"They should be giving the blood because they are saving lives, but some of them need an incentive," said Student Senate advisor Bonnie Strack.

Last year, 275 units of blood were collected at the school's annual event. To break the state record, at least 400 prospective donors must attend the drive. 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, said David Palmer, donor recruitment representative for the Southeast Missouri Area American Red Cross.

"This group of kids is a very energetic bunch and they're wanting to set a record of their own, even though their school set the previous record," he said. "It's very unique of high schools in this area that they put so much of an emphasis on this."

Palmer said the event is the largest one-day blood drive of the year in a 15-county area. Blood supplies are currently at safe levels, but collections today will help assure enough blood is stocked for the summer.