“World Blood Donor Day raises awareness of the need for safe blood around the world.  We hope to encourage eligible individuals to donate blood regularly so that blood is readily available in our communities when it is needed.”

To increase national and global appreciation of volunteer blood donors, AABB and the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (ADRP), in 2008, partnered together to encourage their respective members to celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14.  This specific day marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system.

AABB and ADRP, whose members include individuals and institutions located throughout the world, supported World Blood Donor Day as a way to draw attention to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the world’s population does not have access to safe blood. According to the World Health Organization, more than 80 million units of blood are donated every year, but only 38 percent are collected in developing countries where 82 percent of the global population lives. Some 60 percent of the world’s blood supply goes to 18 percent of the population. There is a serious disparity among countries when it comes to both the availability and safety of blood.

As additional donor restrictions are implemented and the population ages, the U.S. and other countries could lose more and more willing donors, which could cause an even greater threat to our global blood supply. Recent research shows that only 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood.  Of those eligible, only a small fraction actually donate each year.  Maintaining a strong, continuous voluntary blood donor pool is critical to ensuring that there is a robust blood supply to meet patients’ needs 365 days a year, whether their needs are for scheduled treatments or for emergencies.

AABB and ADRP encourage donors and potential donors to make giving blood a regular part of their lives.  One unit of blood can save up to three lives.   To donate blood, one must be healthy, and meet age, weight and other donor requirements. Those interested in donating blood may visit  www.aabb.org > Donate Blood to find a local blood collection site and to schedule an appointment.

2008 WBDD Activities

The two organizations announced the establishment of the AABB/ADRP Blood Donor Day Award to recognize one organization for its outstanding efforts to promote this celebratory event.

AABB and ADRP also developed the following downloadable World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) resource kit materials to assist member organizations with implementing WBDD activities:

• WBDD fact sheet (MS Word)
• Customizable AABB/ADRP WBDD Newspaper Ad (MS Word) (PDF)
• Customizable AABB/ADRP WBDD Flyer (MS Word) (PDF) 
• Official WBDD 2008 poster (PDF)
• Sample press release that can be tailored to build WBDD interest among local media members (MS Word)
• Sample Local Fact Sheet (MS Word)
• Sample Solicitation Letter for Gubernatorial Proclamations (MS Word)
• Sample Proclamations
  • Gubernatorial (MS Word)
  • Mayoral (MS Word)
• Top 25 Sound Bites (MS Word)
• Facts about Blood and Blood Banking (MS Word)
• Generating Media Publicity (MS Word)