The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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  • Daniel Martinez, a sophomore at Enid High School, relaxes as the first-time donor gives blood on his 16th birthday Tuesday at Northwest Oklahoma Blood Institute. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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February 8, 2012

EHS sophomore donates blood on 16th birthday

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Daniel Martinez made a list of things to do on his 16th birthday. On the list were get a driver’s license and donate blood.

Martinez had seen his parents donating blood at his church and thought it would be a great idea to save someone’s life.

“Now that I’ve turned 16, what better way to celebrate it than by giving blood,” Martinez said.

The Enid High School sophomore made the donation at Northwest Oklahoma Blood Institute in Enid.

Blood donations cannot be made until age 16, and then only with parental permission. Martinez has his parent’s permission and plans to become a regular donor, giving as many times as he can before he goes to Ecuador for the summer. His blood type is A positive.

“I think other kids want to do it as well. I see my friends at school donate, but I couldn’t until now,” he said.

He had been thinking about donating blood since age 14. At that time, Martinez did not know where the blood went, although he knew it went to hospitals. He also didn’t know how often blood is needed or how short the supply always is.

His mother wasn’t really surprised when he told her he wanted to become a blood donor, because they had been discussing it since he was 14.

His donation is typical of many young people who are the future of the OBI, said Ginny Bruner, collections operations manager. She said there are a number of high school students who donate when they have school blood drives.

“We have quite a few 16- and 17-year-olds. We’re seeing a fair amount of donors at the high schools when we go there. Not as many come to the center,” Bruner said.

Seeing students like Martinez is a good sign for the OBI, Bruner said. Young people have healthy blood and are the future of the institute. She said these are the people OBI officials hope will become lifetime donors.

A permission slip signed by parents is required before a 16-year-old is allowed to donate. Youths go through the same screenings as all other donors. Donors receive a mini-physical with blood pressure, pulse and iron-level screenings. They must weigh at least 125 pounds to donate blood.

“This sends a message to other 16-year-olds. He is with his peers, a good positive influence on his peers,” Bruner said.

OBI staff members try to make the experience of 16- and 17-year-old youths as good as possible, because they want them to come back. There are older donors whose health conditions change and who can no longer donate, but the high school donors are predominantly very healthy, Bruner said.

“It’s a very good sign. There are a lot of students who are enthusiastic and who are good ambassadors for OBI. They are important to us,” Bruner said.

A high school tennis player, Martinez hopes to go to college on a tennis scholarship and “see what happens after that.”

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