Ideas for your World Blood Donor Day campaign

Effective blood donor recruitment and retention campaigns involve mobilization at both grassroots and national levels. Broad participation and simple, compelling and consistent messages will improve the likelihood of voluntary blood donation becoming part of the culture of your community. Support from community leaders is also critical in ensuring success in attracting a sufficient number of low-risk, voluntary unpaid blood donors.

Evidence shows that participatory activities built around existing networks – blood transfusion services, national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, schools and universities, workplaces and community-based organizations such as youth, women’s and religious organizations – are the most successful means of disseminating information and attracting regular voluntary unpaid blood donors.

World Blood Donor Day will provide a special opportunity to:

Thank voluntary non-remunerated blood donors for giving "the gift of life" – and encourage them to donate regularly in the future
Emphasize the "feel good" aspect of being part of a special group of miracle workers who regularly provide a crucial, lifesaving resource
Urge existing blood donors to encourage healthy friends and family members to become voluntary unpaid blood donors or to support blood donation campaigns
Encourage people who donated blood when it was needed by a family member or friend to become regular voluntary unpaid blood donors
Educate current and potential donors about how they can lead healthy lifestyles to protect themselves and keep their blood safe
Stimulate enthusiasm for ongoing World Blood Donor Day events