Canadian Blood Services seeks 30,000 donors amid holidays: ‘It saves lives’

Despite the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the critical demand for blood and plasma donations persists, according to Canadian Blood Services.

As Canadians immerse themselves in the whirlwind of holiday festivities, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) faces a pressing challenge. Despite the hustle and bustle of the season, the critical demand for blood and plasma donations persists.

In the upcoming weeks, CBS said it needs 30,000 blood donors to make sure hospitals are stocked with blood, which goes to a range of critical needs, including support for cancer patients, premature babies and trauma victims.

“It saves lives,” Ron Vezina, vice-president of public affairs for Canadian Blood Services, told Global News.

“The need increases because people get busy with things that take them away from the normal routines, whether they’re hosting or doing holiday shopping. Meanwhile, hospitals keep running, and the need for blood doesn’t go away.”

Statutory holidays in December and early January impact the collection of blood donations, he said. And because of this, there is an urgent need for donations during the holidays.

CBS runs a national inventory to make sure when hospitals need blood the organization can quickly replenish it. Given the perishable nature of blood, it cannot be stored in a warehouse for extended periods throughout the year. Instead, Vezina said there is a constant need for donors to come in regularly and contribute to maintaining a fresh and ongoing supply.

Platelets, which are part of every blood donation, have a shelf life of only seven days, according to CBS. They are a vital component of blood and are commonly used in treatments for cancer patients.

But if blood and plasma aren’t stocked, that is when he worries hospitals will have to start deciding who can and cannot receive blood on a priority basis.