WACO, TX — According to the American Association of Blood Banks, more than 60 percent of blood donors are 40 years or older.
It's getting the conversation started in young adults because usually their reasoning in not giving is this:
"I'm not sure honestly, I'm just kind of scared," 18 year old, Ana Castillo said.
She attended University High School, and when they had their blood drives - she was always curious about donating but never acted on it.
"It helps them to see the importance of giving back to the community and since we're health science it gives them an exposure into the world of health care," Jefferson Gunn, teacher, said.
Castillo would see her friends donate and knowing they were helping save lives sounded really cool.
"Seeing that it helps people, and that you could potentially save somebody's life so I think that's really cool," Castillo said.
Many regular blood donors are becoming to old to donate, and since the younger generation isn't picking up the slack, shortages happen.
University High School has been hosting with Carter BloodCare since 2010 and since then they have had more than 2,500 students, faculty and parents donate and because of that more than 2,100 units of blood have been donated.
Sometimes, all it takes is to get them talking about it to donate. After we spoke with Castillo about donating and asked if she might now, she had a change of heart.
"Honestly, this is kinda like a okay you should probably go and donate like an epiphany maybe you should go and donate and see what it can do for you," Castillo said.
The 3rd annual "KXXV Cares Blood Drive" is happening on Thursday, Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
