Young people being called out for blood donations in all areas within Nara prefecture

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120116-00000032-san-l29

Transmitted by the Sankei Shimbun January 16, 7:55AM

Vocational school students request blood donations from young people=Nara City (Picture: Sankei Shimbun)

With a shortage of blood available for transfusion during the winter, getting people interested in donating blood is of high importance. The prefecture's Red Cross Blood Center (in Yamatokōriyama city) instituted the "20 year olds’ blood donation campaign”. Taking place in each part of Nara prefecture, it lasts until February 29th.

According to the center, 23-24% of all blood donors aged 16-29 stopped donating blood in 2011. Even fewer in the 30-40 age groups donated. Furthermore, the cold winter season meant that people were not inclined to leave their houses to donate blood, contributing to the decrease. Each year, during this period, the entire country encourages young people to cooperate in donating blood.

On the 14th, a donation campaign took place at the Nara Family shopping center in Nara city. Vocational school students who came of age this year greeted shoppers and made appeals for blood donations. Participant Kuroda Chiharu (Age 20) said "Since donating blood is very important, I want more young people to have an interest in it."


Original text:
若者に「献血を」　県内各地で呼びかけ　奈良
産経新聞 1月16日(月)7時55分配信

若者らに献血を呼びかける専門学校生ら＝奈良市（写真：産経新聞）

輸血用の血液が不足しがちな冬場に献血への関心を高めてもらおうと、県赤十字血液センター（大和郡山市）などは、県内各地で「はたちの献血キャンペーン」（２月２９日まで）を実施している。

同センターによると、県内では平成２２年度、１６～２９歳の献血者数は全体の２３・４％にとどまり、３０、４０代よりも少ない。また、寒い冬場は外出を控える傾向があるため献血に訪れる人は減少するといい、毎年この時期に全国で若者に献血への協力を呼びかけている。

１４日に奈良市のショッピングセンター「ならファミリー」で行われたキャンペーンでは、今年成人式を迎えた奈良市の専門学校生、黒田千春さん（２０）が買い物客に献血を呼びかけた。黒田さんは「献血は重要なことなので、若い人たちにも関心を持ってもらいたい」と話していた。