A Milestone of Giving: Staff Domain’s First Blood Donation Drive
by Francesca Dosayla
Staff Domain held its first blood donation drive with the Philippine Red Cross last 3rd of September at our office in Cyberscape Gamma, Ortigas Center. 61 employees registered, 41 went through to screening, and 30 donated.
The numbers, and what they say
The blood donation drive kicked off promptly at 8:00 AM. The participants were a mix of regular donors and eager first-timers, many of whom relayed afterwards the calm and reassuring environment the Red Cross team provided throughout the checks and extraction. Speaking of the latter group of donors, giving blood for the first time takes a small act of courage. The team met it well.
Despite the enthusiasm, not everyone who wanted to give could. 11 people who registered and sat through screening were eventually deferred for health or other eligibility reasons, but they were still recognised as part of the roster when the drive came to a close. That was the system working as designed, where we wanted safety to take precedence above all, but made sure that deferred donors felt as thanked as anyone who donated.
By the end of the day, 30 members of our staff had successfully donated. At one bag per donor, and with each bag split into red cells, plasma, and platelets, that one drive alone was projected to help save as many as 90 lives. A good turnout overall, according to the Philippine Red Cross doctors who were in attendance.
How we looked after our donors
Lunch came from The Moment Group, arranged and paid for by Staff Domain, because a proper meal after donating is part of donor care, not a perk. The Red Cross team added snacks of their own, on top of a Philippine Red Cross donation card with each donor’s blood type and donation history, as well as a handy bag tag to mark their participation.
The screening process gives every donor a basic health check before donation, as well as a look into the donor’s donation frequency. One rule sits above all of it: donate only if you meet the Red Cross’s health and eligibility requirements.
No pressure, no quotas, no exceptions.
Why does a staffing company run a blood drive?
Because the standard for how people are treated does not stop at the office door.
We ask clients to give every hire a real onboarding, a real manager, and a real career path. A drive like this points the same idea outward. Our people gave part of themselves, in the most literal sense, to patients they will never meet.
The Philippine Red Cross thanked us for the partnership and said they hope it becomes a long-term one. So do we.
The drive also supports two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3, good health and well-being, through blood supply and employee health awareness, and SDG 17, partnerships for the goals, through the collaboration itself.
What we would tell another company planning its first drive
- Expect a deferral rate
Registration numbers are not donor numbers, so plan space, time, and catering accordingly. - Feed people well afterwards
Donor care continues after the needle comes out. - Let the Red Cross run the clinical side.
Their team handled screening, extraction, and first-timer nerves better than any employer could. - Keep participation voluntary in practice, not just on paper.
The moment a drive feels like a target, eligible but unsure people may donate without the proper mindset or preparation.
FAQs
How many lives can one blood donation save?
Up to three. The Philippine Red Cross separates each whole blood donation into red cells, plasma, and platelets, and each component can go to a different patient.
Who can donate blood with the Philippine Red Cross?
The Red Cross screens every donor for age, weight, and health on the day. Check the current requirements at redcross.org.ph before you register.
What happens if you get deferred at screening?
You cannot donate that day, which is the safety system doing its job. Many deferrals are temporary, and the Red Cross team will tell you when you can try again.
Will Staff Domain run more blood drives?
Yes, that is the plan. The Philippine Red Cross hopes this becomes a longer-term partnership, and so do we.
Want to see more of how our people work, grow, and give? Follow SD Life on LinkedIn.
