In Print: Canadian Blood Services Urges Blood Donation in Summer Plans
As COVID-19 restrictions fluctuate into further ease in many regions across the country and Canadians rush to make bookings for trips, attractions and dining experiences, the teams at Canadian Blood Services ask citizens to consider tapping blood donation appointments into their summer itineraries.
With hospitals now performing their large backlogs of surgeries, in addition to everyday health practices and emergencies that require blood, blood donor clinics are sitting at low supply, in part due to a decrease in donorship from missed and unfilled appointments.
CBS also notes that regular summer activity comes with a reoccurring increase in road accidents, many of which often require blood transfusions, making for further need and use of already limited blood donations.
Currently, the most required blood is type O-negative, but this request should not deter other blood types from feeling their blood is desired or necessary. O-negative blood is the universal blood type, compatible with nearly any patient, but it’s harder to find.
“When seconds count, someone’s life is on the line, and there’s no time to check blood type, hospital patients in an emergency can all receive O-negative blood.”
Similar to the push for life-saving vaccine bookings, health officials are urging Canadians to not only make blood donorship appointments to help their communities but also to fulfill them.
“As we move into the summer months, we are urging eligible blood donors to book and keep their appointments to support lifesaving care for patients. Missed or cancelled appointments are difficult for us to fill. If you make an appointment, try to keep it. If you are unable to make it to your appointment, please cancel it so we can find someone else to take your place or consider re-booking in the coming months.”
As it stands, over 100,000 new donors are currently needed to help Canada’s healthcare systems keep up with the backlogged and rising current demand for blood, stem cells and plasma. This includes clinics’ needs to fill 5 to 8-day supplies of O-negative, as many inventories currently average at 3.
For the safety and security of staff and donors, COVID-19 protocols and enhanced wellness measures will remain in place in all facilities until further notice.
While walk-ins are not currently accepted, same-day appointments, and re-opened appointments, are available in most communities daily, with booking being as easy as a phone call to 1-888-2-DONATE, a visit to blood.ca or a few taps on the GiveBlood app, now available in Google Play and the App Store.
Please donate today.
This content was written for the August issue of Horizon, a travel & lifestyle magazine via Lazarus Bleu Inc.