Springing our way to summer (blood drives).

Posted: Apr 03, 2018 | Category: Latest Articles

We’re not even two weeks into spring, but over at We Are Blood, we’re already dreaming of summer… but maybe not for the reasons you think.

Just like with Spring Break and the holidays, the summer season is sort of slumpy when it comes to blood donations. You’ve probably heard us talk about how we need more than 200 donations per day just to keep up with local need. What many people don’t realize, however, is that about 50% of those daily donations are actually collected at mobile blood drives. And those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer mean we see far fewer blood drives, and thus, far fewer blood donations.

We’ve already started brainstorming ways to beat the summer slump, and we are working RIGHT NOW to book blood drives over the summer. If you’ve ever thought about hosting a mobile blood drive, the summer months are a great time to start!

We’re more than a little biased, but we have a pretty great team of people who oversee the ins and outs of all our mobile blood drives. In fact, we have TWO entire departments of folks whose sole job every day is to make sure our blood drives run without a hitch. One of the departments is in charge of going out and taking blood, the other department is in charge of booking blood drives and equipping people like you to host them!

We know lots of folks who aren’t able to donate as frequently as they’d like, and hosting a blood drive is a great way to support the blood supply in a different way.

Sound interesting?

Follow the steps below to get started hosting your very own blood drive.

Step 1: Identify a place where you can hold a drive.

A blood drive doesn’t have to be on a bus, like many people think. In fact, we can accommodate even more donors if we set up a travelling donor center in your building! Either way, we tend to take up lots of space. We go into the exact specifications on our website, so make sure you check that out.

Step 2: Make sure you can get people to donate.

In order to book a blood drive, we need to make sure you can identify at least 22 people who will be willing and able to donate when the time comes.

It’s at this step that many people think, “22? No problem!” But remember: only 38% of the population is actually eligible to donate blood. And of that 38%, they have to actually be present to donate! Because our staff resources are limited, we have to do our best to ensure each drive is a huge success and that we’ll see enough donors to help meet local patient needs.

Also, our blood drives are most successful when we’re able to schedule donation appointments ahead of time. It’s easier for your friends and family and community to know when and what time they’re donating, and it ensures that we have an element of planning in place to have a successful blood drive.

Step 3: Get on our calendar ASAP.

We book blood drives MONTHS in advance! You know, resources. We have a very skilled group of phlebotomists who come out to draw blood, but we only have so many. And because we host 2-5 blood drives every single day of the year, we’re planning our calendars many weeks and months in advance.

Right now we’re actively filling our May, June, and July calendars.

Get on our calendar early so you can make sure to reserve a spot.

Step 4: Start chatting with your We Are Blood rep.

As soon as you book your drive, you’ll get matched up with your blood drive cruise director. He or she will walk you through the entire process and equip you with the tools to have a successful blood drive.

We have some best practices here, too!

Step 5: Be proud!

Seriously, shout it from the roof tops! Hosting a blood drive is a HUGE badge of honor, and the more you talk about it, the more lives you can save.

So what are you waiting for? Is your bond with Central Texas thicker than water? If you’re ready to host your next (or first!) blood drive, contact us today at blooddrives@weareblood.org.