Canadian Blood Services rallies locals to shine a light on need for donors in new campaign

Vezina says over the course of the pandemic, they’ve seen Canada’s donor participation rate drop from just under four per cent of the eligible population to under two per cent.

“We know Canadians are generous people, however there are simply not enough folks donating blood and blood products regularly,” said Vezina. “People tend to think ‘someone else will do it’. The reality is, there is a small group of dedicated donors filling hospital blood banks. We are grateful for their commitment, but when they aren’t able to donate, it leaves a gap. That could mean the difference between life or death for a patient.”

Red Deer’s Amélie Adolphe and her family know first-hand the impact a donor can make.

Adolphe nearly died after swallowing a lithium button battery in the spring of 2020 when she was 18 months old. The battery caused extensive internal damage and she needed countless blood products to survive.

READ: Red Deer toddler recovering in hospital after swallowing battery

“The doctors could have done everything right, but without blood donors, Amélie would have died,” said her mother, Leslie Bangamba. “Instead, this happy little girl is back to dancing in the kitchen.”

Canadian Blood Services says more than 100,000 new donors needed every single year.

“To keep a stable supply of blood and blood products for patients like Amélie, we need to reverse this downward trend and it needs to start now,” said Vezina. “When everyone’s lives were disrupted by the pandemic, their routines changed. We need people to make blood and plasma donation a habit.”

While donors of all blood types are needed, the Canadian Blood Services says the less common a person’s blood type, the more difficult it is to find a donor if that person suddenly needs matched rare blood for a transfusion.

“Not only do we need to collect enough of each blood type, we know that blood from donors of the same or similar racial or ethnic background as the recipient is less likely to cause complications for patients who need regular transfusion therapy,” said Vezina. “Our priority is to ensure the best possible treatment and care is given to patients from all communities. To do that, we need to improve the representation of Black, South Asian, and other racialized people within our donor base.”

He says if someone is already a donor or isn’t able to donate, they can still make a difference by encouraging others to book an appointment, including family, friends and on social media networks. They can also register to donate their organs and tissue, volunteer their time, make a monetary donation, or register as a potential stem cell donor if between 17 and 35 years old.

This year, across Canada, Canadian Blood Services says they must collect 16,000 units of blood and 3,000 units of plasma every week. They say new and existing plasma and blood donors are needed to fill every open appointment from now through to the end of the summer.

The organization provided various statistics, including:

One in two people have either required blood and blood products themselves or have a loved one who has needed these life essentials.
One in two people are eligible to donate blood and plasma, yet only one in 81 does.
There are over 17.5 million eligible donors in Canada, but less than two per cent donate blood or plasma.
A small group of regular donors currently meets the needs of the entire country, but this is unsustainable.
With the support of donors, last year Canadian Blood Services issued close to a million blood components to over 700 hospitals across Canada.

“Donating blood and plasma is a simple act that doesn’t take long but can help change a life,” said the organization in a release. “Donors have a lasting and direct impact,.”

“Make a powerful human connection while putting your feet up.”

To donate, download the GiveBlood app, visit blood.ca, or call 1 888 2DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to join Canada’s Lifeline and book an appointment.

by rdnewsNOW Staff

Canadian Blood Services rallies locals to shine a light on need for donors in new campaign

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