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"Boogie for Life" Blood Drive a Success
That '70s Blood Drive Doubles Donations over Previous Drive
Written by
Katie Lawson
, Staff Writer, Redcross.org
Tuesday, March 28, 2006 — FALLS CHURCH, Va. - American Red Cross employees and regular blood donors gathered at the organization's Jefferson Park office in Falls Church, Va., recently for “Boogie for Life,” a spirited blood drive complete with '70s décor and soundtrack.
Chuck Bass (left) and John Austin (right) trip the light fantastic at the "Boogie for Life" blood drive at the American Red Cross Jefferson Park office in Falls Church, Va., on March 22, 2006.
(Photo Credit: Katie Lawson/American Red Cross)
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Organized by Red Crossers John Austin and Chuck Bass, this was the second themed blood drive at Jefferson Park, and based to the successful turnout, it certainly won’t be the last. The first themed blood drive was beach-inspired, and it nearly doubled the number of donated units collected over the drive before it.
Incorporating a theme and having contests and giveaways during the day lets donors know they are appreciated. Offering a fun, upbeat distraction makes the donation process seem less dull. For this particular drive, Senior Quality Engineer John Austin, dressed in '70s attire and acted as DJ, playing familiar songs from the era.
“Having a theme complete with good music is a great way to include the Red Cross staff at the Jefferson Park building and also create a fun, light-hearted atmosphere for the blood drive,” said Austin.
By the end of the drive, which took place between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 28 usable units of blood had been collected. Because one unit of whole blood may help up to three patients, nearly 90 people could benefit from the efforts of the drive.
Stephen Widell was one of the Red Cross staffers who participated in the "Boogie for Life" blood drive at the Red Cross Jefferson Park offices last Wednesday.
(Photo Credit: Katie Lawson/American Red Cross)
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In an attempt to spread the word about the blood drive to the local community, fliers were distributed to local businesses and a nearby hotel. A few volunteers donated blood as did Red Cross staff, regular donors and a few walk-ins.
For Chuck Bass, this was a great opportunity to get involved with blood donation since he is unable to donate blood himself. When Bass took over for the previous organizer, he really wanted to have a fun event that targeted Red Cross employees as well as those who donate regularly. The theme and music were especially important to him and seemed to create a comfortable environment for both the donors and the workers.
“The music was great! There was lots of singing along, swaying to the beat, head bobbing and toe tapping seen all through the day,” said Bass. “When people have that much fun, they want to come back.”
After Jefferson Park's slam dunk success with theming their blood drives, the Red Cross national headquarters building "inside the Beltway," as they say in Washington D.C., is hosting a "March Madness" blood drive today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., encouraging employees and volunteers to team up to save a life.
Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. The donation procedure is simple, takes about an hour, and finding a blood drive is easy since the Red Cross works closely with businesses, community groups, churches, etc., to organize blood drives at conveniently located donation sites.
To ensure a pleasant donation experience when you give blood, follow these easy tips:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Eat a good breakfast or lunch with iron rich foods such as red meat, fish or poultry. Avoid fatty foods such as hamburgers and fries as blood can be affected by fatty materials.
- Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate.
- Wear clothing with sleeves that can be easily raised above the elbow.
- Relax!
- Stay and enjoy a snack and a drink after you donate.
- Rehydrate with plenty of fluids for the 24-48 hours after you donate.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity for about five hours after donation.
Don't forget to review the eligibility guidelines, and visit www.GiveLife.org for more information, to find a local blood drive or to schedule a donation at a blood center near you. Or, you can call 1-800-GIVELIFE.
The American Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. The Red Cross must collect blood donations each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders, and the organization works to accomplish this through its 36 Blood Services regions. Please call today to make your appointment to give the gift of life. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule your donation or to sponsor a blood drive.
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