Canadian Blood Services needs blood donors now
Blood Signal activated heading Into Thanksgiving long weekend to highlight the need for blood donors this fall
October 5, 2011 (OTTAWA) – Canadian Blood Services has activated the Blood Signal and is asking eligible Canadians to book an appointment to donate blood to help hospital patients in need as we approach the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Starting with Thanksgiving, and over the next six weeks, Canadian Blood Services will need more than 6,000 additional donors to book appointments to meet the needs of hospital patients all across Canada. “The need for blood and blood products is constant and we are proactively increasing our efforts to encourage Canadians to donate now,” says Sue Blasutti, Executive Director of Donor and Clinic Services at Canadian Blood Services. “It can take many units of blood to save a patient. For example, it can take 50 units of blood to help just one car accident victim.”
Canadian Blood Services has activated the Blood Signal because right now there is a greater need for blood. The Blood Signal is a visual and auditory icon that is used during increased times of need throughout the year as a reminder that the need for blood is great and serves as a rallying cry for communities to come together to save lives. The Blood Signal will be seen on-line and heard on radio stations from coast to coast this week to highlight the need for blood donors now. Long week-ends, like Thanksgiving, are a difficult time to collect blood, because people are often away or are busy with family activities. Meanwhile, the demand for blood and blood products remains strong due in part to higher traffic on the roads, which can result in more traumas requiring blood.
“Our national inventory means that no one is currently going without blood and we can draw on our reserves so that patients who need blood continue to get it,” says Blasutti. “We do, however, need to work to replenish our blood supply now and over the next six weeks heading into the holiday season. We are calling on Canadians to make an extra effort to come in and make a life-saving donation.” People willing to help with a donation can book an appointment right now by calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236 6283). Donors who already have an appointment are encouraged to make every effort to honour that appointment.
Note about the Blood Signal:
Earlier this year, Canadian Blood Services launched a bold new marketing and recruitment campaign called “Rally Together to Save Lives”. As part of the new campaign, Canadian Blood Services has also created the “Blood Signal” that is a visual and auditory icon designed to connect Canadians socially and emotionally to the idea of giving blood. The Blood Signal will be used during increased times of need throughout the year as a reminder that the need for blood is great and serves as a rallying cry for communities to come together to save lives. So, look for the Blood Signal on-line and listen for it on a radio station in your community and when you see or hear the Blood Signal, please book an appointment to donate blood by calling 1 888 2 DONATE and encourage your family and friends to join you in saving lives.
For more information or to book an appointment to donate blood, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236 6283) today.
- 30 -