Canadian Blood Services encourages new and returning donors to book appointments during National Blood Donor Week as hospital procedures resume across the country. (photo from Canadian Blood Services)
Longtime and new donors are being celebrated during National Blood Donor Week.
Canadian Blood Services wants to remind Canadians how much their blood donation matters.
“Demand for blood in the last two weeks has returned to near pre-COVID-19 levels as hospitals resume elective surgeries and procedures that were put on hold due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, to maintain physical distancing and other safety measures in our donor centres, how much blood we can collect across the country is currently at 90 per cent. This gap is drawing down the national blood supply and we need donors to help replenish it by filling all available slots,” says Rick Prinzen, Canadian Blood Services chief supply chain officer and vice-president of donor relations.
Canadian Blood Services recorded a 20 per cent year-over-year increase in first-time donors in the six weeks from mid-March to the end of April.
National Blood Donor Week concludes on Sunday, June 14th with World Blood Donor Day.
Returning and new donors are encouraged to book appointments in advance since donor centres are not open to walk-in appointments currently.
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