The statistics on teenage altruism are staggering:

A recent "Youth Helping America" report from the Corporation for National & Community Service -- an organization that strives to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering -- stated that an estimated 15.5 million youth, or 55 percent of youth ages 12 to 18, participate in volunteer activities; this teen volunteer rate is nearly twice the adult volunteer rate of 29 percent.

Our nation's youth also contribute more than 1.3 billion hours of community service each year. Additionally, 39 percent of teen volunteers can be classified as regular volunteers, defined as those who volunteer at least 12 weeks per year.

The report noted that youth who volunteer are less likely to become pregnant or use drugs because volunteering in adolescence is related to positive academic, psychological, and occupational outcomes.

It's no surprise that teenagers who are involved in community service are more likely to have a strong work ethic and more likely to volunteer later in life.

THESE STATISTICS deserve our attention, and our legislators and state officials have already taken notice.

In March, at the urging of Virginia Blood Services (VBS), the American Red Cross, and INOVA Blood Donor Services, the Commonwealth of Virginia became the 21st state to pass a bill lowering the blood donation age from 17 to 16 years old. The new law goes into effect today. The passing of this bill creates an opportunity for 16-year-olds, with their parents' consent, to become more involved in their communities and, in this case, to help save lives.

For VBS, Richmond and Central Virginia's sole supplier of blood to local hospitals, lowering the blood donation age will provide an estimated 2,000 additional donations each year from high school students. Currently, 7.1 percent of all donations with VBS -- nearly 7,200 -- come from high school students, another good example of teenagers who are involved and making a difference in their communities.

Because of increasing regulatory requirements, only 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate, down from 60 percent several years ago. With this in mind, it is critically important that blood centers like VBS find new categories of blood donors. Future restrictions will continue to eliminate potential donors and make it harder to meet the needs of patients in our community. Lowering the blood donation age by one year will help offset donors lost to new regulations.

It's also important to note that since 2004, blood transfusions have been the most common procedure performed during a hospital stay. Our region's population is growing and aging, and more blood will be needed for these reasons alone. Technological advances in such areas as organ transplantation will also increase blood needs.

We are grateful that these trends were compelling enough to convince our representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, John O'Bannon, M.D., to sponsor the bill that gives 16-year-olds in Virginia the opportunity to donate blood today.

ALREADY, 16-year-olds have shown that they are responsible enough to take on this important task and can and will help meet the demand of hospital and patient needs. In just six VBS visits to Richmond area high schools, 180 16-year-olds signed up to learn more and give blood. We have also been encouraged by the positive response from high school staff and school administration after their hearing of the donation age being lowered.

Day after day, blood donors tell us that they began donating blood in high school and never stopped. If your 16-year-old poses the question, "Can I donate?" we hope that you will support his decision and encourage your teenager not only to eat a good meal and remember to bring his parental consent form, but to think of the three lives he will help save with his act of kindness. It could result in a lifetime of giving.

The bottom line is that giving blood is safe and rewarding and many 16-year-olds have signed on for the challenge. Our state officials made the right decision.
Robert E. Carden is the president and CEO of Virginia Blood Services. Contact him at (804) 213-4123 or rcarden@vablood.org.