Canadian Blood Services is once again calling on Canadians to make donating blood a regular part of their lives.
The call comes after a summer that saw blood supply drop nearly 20 per cent in June. That caused a call to action that saw donation bookings go up by 50 per cent with over 6,700 new donors. But Ryan Adams, Canadian Blood Service's Director of Development and Recruitment, says strains on the blood supply are being felt not just here, but worldwide.
"This isn't just a Canadian issue or an Ontario issue, this is actually a global issue. The demand for blood continues to rise around the world, the demand for plasma products continues to rise and we need more and more donors, more and more Canadians, to step up to ensure that we can meet that need," Adams said.
Canadian Blood Services has united with the NHS Blood and Transplant in the UK and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to issue a joint appeal for more people to donate regularly. This is during a time when blood supplies across Canada, the UK, and Australia have dropped by up to 30 per cent in recent months.
Adams says in order to maintain consistent supply, those new donors, as well as previous donors, need to make donating a more regular habit.
"Just like you go to your dentist a couple times a year, or whatever other kind of routines you may have, we need you to think of a blood donation in a similar vein. So it's coming that two to three times a year," he added.
Strains on the blood supply are being felt not just here, but worldwide. When that happens, it can really affect the healthcare sector. Adams points out that blood is a lifesaving component of many types of procedures, from surgeries, to cancer treatments and to help people in serious medical trauma.
"The blood system really is the core infrastructure that connects our healthcare network from coast-to-coast. So when we see a big drop like that 20 per cent drop we saw in Canada over the summer, that potentially can have impacts on patient care," Adams noted.
To become a donor or set up an appointment, visit Blood.ca or download the GiveBlood app.
