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-Click here to Donate ARC--------------------------------------------Click here to Donate BCP------------------------------------------------------Click here to donate Stanford Blood Center

How is donating blood a part of Disaster Preparedness?

Blood donations are a huge part of emergency preparedness, although most people do not make the correlation between emergency preparedness and blood supply.

During any disaster natural or manmade many people often suffer life threatening injuries that require the need for blood transfusions.

Keeping an adequate supply of blood on hand is a challenge on a daily basis. There are daily occurrences that constantly draw on supplies daily such as premature births, illness, tramatic accidents and research - just to name a few. Having an adequate supply of blood immediately after a major disaster is not likely.  Many people will come together AFTER a disaster to donate. It takes days to process blood before it can be used, many victims of disaster often don’t have days to wait and their lives can be lost.

Many people have prepared their family and themselves for a disaster by creating a family plan, keeping a Go Bag or home emergency kit on hand. Often when people prepare for a disaster, a vacation or even just a trip to the grocery store they check their supplies to assure themselves they will have everything they need on hand but very few realize that blood is also a needed supply that should be well stocked.

Is donating a pint of blood all I can do?
No, there is more.

1. Teach your children early the importance of donating blood.
2. Host a blood drive in your community.
(Churches, Schools, Neighborhood Associations, social groups, businesses and more)
3. Challenge other communities to raise more blood than your blood drive.

Raise awareness about your organization while helping the community

How does holding a blood drive raise awareness about your organization?
When members of the community see the blood mobile and hear about the blood drive via the fliers it will bring awareness of your organization.

How does holding a blood drive help the community?
Every three seconds a patient needs blood. Unfortunately the need is far greater than the supply. Holding blood drives are a great way to nourish and stock blood supplies. A well stocked blood supply helps those in the community who need blood.

Is hosting a blood drive costly?
Hosting a blood drive does not cost you anything, most blood collection centers provide you with all the tools and supplies you need to advertise you event. (Posters, Flyers, Email tools). They will even assign you an account representative who will work closely with you. They will show up with a blood mobile and staff members who will take care of everything regarding blood donations the day of the event.

1. You need a location. You can use a parking lot at a library, a park, a church parking lot. If the blood center you are using has a blood mobile. If not, you will need a room, those options are community centers, class room, church Be creative.

2. You need about 4 hours of time to hold the blood drive.

3. You need people (donors). Attach a blood drive to another event such as a school fund raising event, holiday gathering, church event, Health & Safety fair or National Night Out neighborhood event where people will already be gathering. This will help generate awareness of your event as well.

Save money on the cost of buying paper for your fliers by flipping over the fliers the blood center provides to you and print your event on the back of their flier.

Can I host a blood drive even if I am not eligible to donate?
Yes. You do not have to donate at your own blood drive; every person who donates blood at your drive is your contribution as well. You are giving by hosting the blood drive.

What do I get out of it?
Not only will you have the peace of mind of knowing that the community you live in is more likely to have the blood type needed should there be a natural or man made disaster. You will also feel you will feel like you are getting involved in helping your community and you will feel that you make a difference in saving lives.

Advertising Your Blood drive
- Flier distribution -2 weeks prior to event
- Ask your neighborhood school to distribute your fliers to their students
- Ask your neighboring neighborhood association or home owners association to send an electronic version out on their distribution list.
- Ask your local grocery store if they would be willing to place half sheets into grocery bags.
- Your local coffee shops, Most coffee shops will allow you to place a flier on their bulletin board
- Post event on the internet look up local community news sites.
- Email distribution lists of your church, school, social clubs.

Visit the American Association of Blood Banks website to find the nearest donation center to you too donate blood or to find out more about holding blood drives in your area.

Find the nearest location to you