Blood Drives 101: Anyone can do it By KULLERVO “KULTSI” NURMI Editor’s note: THS member Kullervo Nurmi demonstrated the ideals behind “Pay it Forward” put into action when he organized a blood drive at FinnConX, and paid for most of the expenses out of his own pocket. He also was first in line to donate. The following first-hand report is a primer on how any Society member can Pay it Forward by organizing a blood drive at any of the science fiction or fantasy convention in their area. I arranged a blood drive at the FinnConX/Eurocon 2003/Animecon II/Baltcon 2003 combined convention in Turku, Finland. The drive resulted in 37 bags of blood, there were 18 first time donors, and an astounding number of people who wanted, but could not donate for one Paying it Forward: Heinlein reason or other and therefore got Society member Kullervo turned away. “Kultsi” Nurmi (above) not All in all, the convention visitors only donated blood at were young, pierced, tattooed, in FinnCon X in Turki, Finland, the drink, hung over, or any he organized the drive and combination of these. To make paid most of the costs out of the things more difficult, the 80 sail ships attending the Tall Ships’ his own pocket. Race set sail on the nearby Turku Finnish friends: These two River, starting at the same time ladies donated at FinnCon X. as our drive. One thing became apparent at may turn out to be costly. I was an early stage: You must be there able to secure a classroom and early, the blood drive must be in the entry hall of the building next the convention program, so that door to the one with the other lectures, awards, panels, and con activities, a special whatever leave the visitors time arrangement with the University six tables the Red Cross people to donate. It will only happen if at no cost. I think the University had could have handled two the organizers are aware of the administration thought the blood hundred persons in the four hours blood drive while doing their drive was a good thing. The we were in operation. planning. This will ensure the classroom was used for the Contacting the local Red Cross blood drive is on the con’s web operations, and the hall for need not be as early, because site from the beginning and it administrative trivia such as they are used to taking things to may get a place in the con taking the persons’ data; filling a place, setting up the operations, posters etc. This will save money. out the forms; waiting; sitting doing their stuff, packing up again It will also help in getting the after the donation drinking juice, and tidying up afterwards. They place to do the actual taking of coffee, tea, with munchies while do need time in advance, as they blood — not a small under observation. A blood mobile consideration, as the alternatives or the like might be OK, but the Continued on page 14 Page 13