PARKERSBURG -New laws that allow 16- and 17-year-olds to donate blood should add to area supplies, according to a Red Cross official.

Brian Adams, blood services coordinator for Mid-Ohio Valley chapter of the American Red Cross, said new laws in West Virginia and Ohio could provide an increase in area blood donations.

There are about 20 other states that allow 16- and 17-year-olds to donate blood.

Effective July 1 in West Virginia 16-year-olds can donate blood with parental consent. Earlier this week, Ohio approved a law in which 16-and 17-year-olds could donate blood. Like West Virginia, 16-year-olds in Ohio need parental consent. Seventeen-year-olds, who had to previously seek parental consent before donating, can do so without permission. The Ohio regulations go into effect in October. Adams said their first 16-year-old customer donated blood at the downtown Keystone Center the day the law went effect.

Not everyone is sold on the idea.

Some blood service workers who declined to be identified feel 16-year-olds are too young mentally and physically to donate blood.

Adams acknowledges the possibility, which is why the law requires parental consent forms.

"Parents might not feel 16-year-olds are mature enough or ready to donate blood. That is why we ask for parental consent to make sure parents are comfortable to donate blood."

Last week in Belpre, 18-year-old Lauren Christian donated blood at the Masonic Lodge.

Christian, who has been donating blood since she was 17, was giving for the third time. Christian would have donated at age 16 if allowed, she said. She started donating through her work with the Belpre High School student council.

While she never got ill from donating, she recalled being a little dizzy her first time. Adams said that's a normal reaction for a first-time donor.

"Some people have reactions, typically dizzyness, to donating blood," he said. "We see it more with younger donors."

He said one of the reasons is the lack of a healthy diet. Prior to collection drives, the Red Cross recommends donors eat healthy.

"Sometimes, people think eating a cracker and drinking a glass of water is 'healthy' before they come in."

He said the blood drives have plenty of trained personnel to handle situations that can arise.

Adams said high school drives are very successful with about eight percent of the area's blood collection coming from 16- and 17-year-olds.

The new regulations will increase the eligible donor base.

"This increases the opportunity for us to have blood on the shelf and decrease the amount of shortages we have," Adams said.

Adams estimates the new regulations will account for about a 4 percent increase. The area chapter collects about 7,000 pints of blood annually. Adams thinks the Red Cross will see an increase of 200 to 300 additional units.

Adams said the majority of their first-time donors are high school and college students.

"We have goals that are set for blood drives," he said. "As far as how it will impact high school blood drives, we will take it a drive at a time."