Next month The University of Iowa DeGowin Blood Center will kick off a year-long promotion for blood donation with prizes for goals met throughout the year and a grand prize at the end. Paula Dayton, donor recruitment coordinator for the DeGowin Blood Center in University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, talks about the promotion:
Tell us a little about the new promotion. When does it start?
We are excited to begin our new year-long promotion on September 1. Our year-long promotions always begin in September 1 and run through August 31 of the following year. We like to have our promotion in conjunction with the academic calendar so that a greater number of donors can participate.
What does the promotion consist of?
How would you like to win a four-night cruise for two in the Caribbean including airfare? Well, all you have to do is donate with the DeGowin Blood Center four times during the contest period to get your name in the drawing. The cruise is co-sponsored by the DeGowin Blood Center and Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel.
Can one donor enter more than once?
You need to donate four times to get your name in the drawing. For each donation after the fourth one, the donors name is added to the drawing, increasing the odds of winning. The odds of winning are actually quite good. According to our estimates about 1 in 1000.
Are there special incentives throughout the coming year? What are those?
On the way to the cruise grand prize, you can earn rewards all year long. Every two months, we change our incentives. For the first kick off promotion, which coincides with the football season, the incentive is a tailgating apron to all donors who give in September and October. The aprons are black and say “Kiss the Cook, I’m a DeGowin Blood Donor” in gold.
In November and December we offer the popular holiday T-shirt. January and February are tough months to collect blood so we up the incentive a little with a black fleece stocking hat and scarf.
March and April, traditional months of rain, we offer a black and gold umbrella. In May and June the incentive is a soft side six-pack cooler. In July and August we offer the Cruisin of Life T-shirts as we head to the finish line for the cruise drawing.
Do all participants need to be age 18 or older to win?
Even though you can donate blood when you are 16, you must be 18 years old to win the cruise, and that is a cruise line regulation. Also if you are less than 21 years of age, you can win, but you must be accompanied by a person 25 or older and stay in the same cabin and that also is a cruise line regulation.
Do UI employees or students qualify to be a winner?
All UI employees, except those who work for the DeGowin Blood Center and the Department of Pathology are eligible to win. Employees of the Department of Pathology, their spouses, children, siblings and parents) are not eligible to win, nor any of their affiliates, vendors, or agencies. Which is pretty standard for this type of promotion.
UI Students are eligible if they meet all the other requirements. The complete contest rules are posted on the DeGowin Blood Center web page or you can pick up a copy of the contest rules at the DeGowin Blood Center at C250 GH
Who qualifies to be a blood donor?
Anyone who is 17 years or older and in general good health. Sixteen-year olds can donate with an approved DeGowin consent form signed by their legal guardian. All donors must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.
How long does blood donation take?
It takes about an hour to donate whole blood. You need to allow a couple of hours of your time to do an automated donation.
How many times can one person donate in a typical year?
That depends on the blood components they donate. If you donate whole blood, you can donate every 56 days or six times in a year. Platelet donors can donate every four weeks. Automated donors can also donate a combination of red cells, platelets and plasma depending on blood counts, body size and which blood type they have. There are different deferral times based on those combinations. We track all this very carefully to be sure we follow the guideline established by our standards committees and the FDA.
Is the blood donated to DeGowin Blood Center used within UI Hospitals and Clinics?
Yes the blood collected by DeGowin stays here and is used by the patients in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Is an appointment necessary to donate at DeGowin Blood Center?
Not necessary but advised. Sometimes we have staff out on mobile blood drives or involved with patient care in the blood center so it is better to schedule a time.
How can someone schedule an appointment?
They can call the DeGowin Blood Center at 356-2058 or sign up online. |
