Canadian Blood Services faces drought of donations. Here’s how to help

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is reporting a stark decline in donors, with the national blood inventory confirming a decrease of 25 per cent in the last two months alone. 

Rachel Solomon, Toronto’s Community Development Manager for CBS, is encouraging new donors to help save lives.

“Donating is super easy, and it makes you feel good when you leave the donor centre knowing that you’ve made a positive impact,” she said. 

The organization has provided lifesaving services since 1998, and Solomon says next week is a crucial time of the year.

“National blood donor week starts on June 12, so we are shining a light on the need for new donors while recognizing our returning donors who helped keep Canada’s lifeline strong,” she said.

“In downtown Toronto, we require a minimum of 911 blood donations per week, so we need blood donors now, tomorrow, and future.”  

World Blood Donor Day takes place on 14 June each year.

In a recent press release, Chief Supply Chain Officer Rick Prinzen acknowledged a 10 per cent increase in late cancellations and missed appointments — plus a seven per cent rise in deferrals. 

Solomon partly attributed the cancellations to ongoing COVID-19 cases, which forced people to isolate themselves at a moment’s notice.

“We also think that with the warmer weather and lifted restrictions, many people aren’t making the time to come to our donation centers, but it only takes one hour to help save a life,” she said.  

Donating blood widely considered a low health risk

Three permanent locations exist in downtown Toronto, and some same-day appointments are available online.

After booking at Blood.ca, donors take a short health quiz at College Street, Bloor Street, or King Street locations.

Solomon was reassuring that every clinic conducts a wellness screening, enforces mandatory masks, and ensures that each employee is fully vaccinated.

Because the human body replenishes blood loss within days, Solomon says donating is “an extremely low health risk.”

“I recently just took a friend of mine in to donate for the very first time,” said Solomon.

“… He had a fantastic experience. The staff is friendly, and the process is very easy, so I encourage everybody to donate. You’ll have a great time doing it.”

World Blood Donor Day is held on June 14 each year and was organized for the first time in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion.