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The demand for blood in our region continues
to grow. There is no substitute for the generosity of someone
willing to brighten the lives of others through blood donations.
Every volunteer blood donor can save up to 12 lives in a year by
donating quarterly.
Central Blood Bank collects approximately half of the blood needed
for area patients through local corporate and community blood
drives. These organizations play a vital role in the delivery of
health care in our region and are responsible for brightening
thousands of area lives each year.
You can learn more about what you and your organization can do to
brighten the lives of area patients in need of transfusions through
these pages. After you’ve had a chance to review this information,
please feel free to contact us to answer any specific questions you
may have, or to plan your drive.
The following are suggestions that will aid a successful corporate
or community blood drive:
Select a Blood Drive Coordinator: A single point of contact
should be selected before any blood drive planning. The blood drive
coordinator is responsible for promoting the blood drive, and
helping to recruit blood donors. Be sure to select someone who has
time to devote to the blood drive to ensure its success.
Obtain Support from Leadership: Receive buy-in from upper
management or a leader in the organization – someone to whom
employees or members will listen and respond. Mentions in an
organizational newsletter or at staff meetings, letter or e-mail
distribution, and other forms of outreach encouraging participation
will go a long way ensuring blood drive success.
Organize a Planning Committee: The planning committee is in
charge of the logistics of the blood drive, as well as recruitment
of blood donors. Items that will fall under the responsibility of
the planning committee include:
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Logistics: Where and when the blood
drive will take place. Supplying directions for the location and
meeting with Central Blood Bank personnel to help with set-up the
day of the drive.
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Recruitment: Tips to follow to ensure
high donor turnout include personally asking people to donate either
face-to-face or by phone or e-mail and marketing the blood drive at
high-trafficked locations or organizational events.
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Publicity: Publicize the blood drive
with posters and flyers supplied by Central Blood Bank, as well as
through word of mouth. Hang posters in high-trafficked areas of the
organization. Distribute flyers at functions, or mail home to
employees or members. Post blood drive information on the intranet
or internal publications.
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Scheduling and Reminding Donors:
Sign-up and schedule each potential donor with a donation time. Send
Central Blood Bank a copy of the schedule one week prior to the
drive.
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Personal Testimonials: Employees or
members who have been personally touched by blood donors can be
powerful motivators. Promote this personal testimonial in
organizational materials.
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Create an Event: A blood drive should
be fun! A theme for your blood drive can help achieve this. Use the
seasons, holidays, or a date that’s meaningful to the organization
to help infuse fun and freshness into the blood drive!
Recruiting Tips:
These recruiting tips will help make the blood drive a success, and
ensure a positive experience for the donors.
Be Knowledgeable about Central Blood Bank and the Donation Process:
Know the basic requirements for donating blood, and understand the
donation process to tell donors what to expect when donating.
Communicate Central Blood Bank’s mission and the facts about blood
usage in our region. These can be found on Central Blood Bank’s Web
site.
Recruit Donors Personally: Personally ask every potential donor to
schedule an appointment. Be enthusiastic because excitement is
contagious! Share information and be prepared to answer questions.
Carry sign-up sheets at all times. The opportunity to recruit a
donor may come up unexpectedly.
Know How to Handle Objections: Practice answering commonly asked
questions and work to overcome objections. Reassure potential donors
that donating blood is safe and simple. Respect someone’s legitimate
fears and/or reasons for not donating.
Schedule Appointments for Donors: Communicate appointment times to
all donors. Contact your Central Blood Bank Business Development
Representative if the number of donors scheduled exceeds
expectations. Remind donors to drink decaffeinated fluids and eat
before donating, and to bring identification to the blood drive.
Contact Us:
If you interested in hosting a blood drive for Central Blood Bank,
please contact
the
Director of Business Development at 412-209-7240.
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