Blood Donors Are Winners

AUB student donating blood during the blood donation campaign

"Blood donors save lives" said Dr. Elizabeth Kfoury Baz of the AUB Medical Center. But the lack of sufficient blood donors in Lebanon makes it very difficult to supply the transfusions needed at the hospital, and the AUBMC Blood Bank continues to face difficulty in securing donations of blood.

To motivate more people to donate blood, the Blood Bank has organized a regular monthly event. Each month, a gift is awarded to a randomly selected donor for that month. In September and October, for example, winners received a brand new microwave oven and a new cell phone respectively. Dr. Kfoury Baz and phlebotomist Basima Kays, members of the Blood Bank team, reported that most of the donations come from individuals who specify the recipients of their blood. Recruitment and retention of blood donors is part of their mission and they continue trying to attract new donors.

The process of donating blood is simple and relatively brief. Donors are given pre-donation instructions, fill out an eligibility questionnaire, and receive a physical examination to guarantee that the donor is healthy. It takes about an average of thirty minutes to complete the donation. Cookies and juice are then offered and the donor is given a pamphlet of post-donation instructions. The Blood Bank also offers its donors other free gifts, including mugs, baseball hats, and special pins, in appreciation of their life-saving deed.

With the help of the Lebanese Red Cross Club at AUB, the Blood Bank periodically holds blood drives at the University. Through increasing awareness and attracting more donors, the Blood Bank hopes to motivate more people to donate blood.