COUNTYWIDE : Blood Bank Raises Its Age Limit to 80
A Ventura blood bank has raised its age limit for blood donors to 80, officials said.
The previous age limit set by United Blood Services was 75, with a doctor’s approval required of donors between the ages of 66 and 74.
A new study conducted by United Blood Services shows that older blood donors are no more likely to develop health problems than those in the same age range who do not donate blood, said spokeswoman Carolyn Tyner.
She said blood donations are needed from the older residents.
“There are approximately 650,000 people in Ventura County, and we have 30,000 donors on our rolls,” Tyner said. “That means that less than 5% of the population is supporting the rest of the community. I think that’s too bad.”
Older residents are healthier and more active now than in the past, and they are more available to give blood than younger donors, Tyner said.
She said 650 blood donors are needed each week to meet the bank’s blood requirements. The agency is 100 short of that number for August, she said.
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