Canadian Blood Services is asking eligible people in Vancouver and across the country to roll up their sleeves after Canada’s blood supply dropped by nearly 20 per cent over the past several weeks, leaving inventories at levels that officials say are becoming increasingly concerning.
The organization says blood donations have fallen well below normal seasonal patterns since the beginning of June, with several blood types now in limited supply. If the trend continues, officials warn it could impact their ability to meet the ongoing needs of patients in hospitals across Canada.
Canadian Blood Services requires approximately 18,000 booked blood donation appointments every week to maintain a stable national supply. During the past six weeks, however, appointments have been short by between 1,500 and 2,500 each week, forcing the organization to draw from existing inventories to meet hospital demand.
While donations often slow during the summer as people travel and routines change, this year’s decline has been sharper than anticipated.
“We’ve seen the blood supply decline by about 20 per cent in just a matter of weeks and we need more donors to come forward now to reverse this decline,” said Ron Vezina, Vice President of Donor Engagement and Corporate Reputation at Canadian Blood Services.
Unlike many medical supplies, blood cannot be manufactured and has a limited shelf life of just 42 days. That means a steady stream of donations is needed throughout the year to support patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, emergency care and other lifesaving procedures.
With the August long weekend approaching, Canadian Blood Services says maintaining healthy inventories is especially important, as hospitals often experience increased demand related to accidents and other emergencies.
To help make donating more convenient, additional weekend appointments have been added at many donor centres, while some plasma donor centres are also accepting whole blood donations.
The organization is encouraging both new and returning donors to book an appointment as soon as possible. People who already have an appointment are also asked to keep it, or cancel in advance if they are unable to attend so another donor can take their place.
Eligible donors can book an appointment through the Canadian Blood Services website, the GiveBlood app or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.
As summer continues, Canadian Blood Services says even a single donation can help replenish supplies and ensure hospitals have the blood they need for patients across British Columbia and the rest of Canada.