Canadian Blood Services launches urgent donor appeal as supply drops 20 per cent

Canadian Blood Services says it is facing a critical shortage as blood donations have plummeted over the past several weeks, dropping nearly 20 per cent since June 1.

The agency is urging people across Canada to book a blood donation appointment, noting that the shortfall is beyond the usual drop in donations during the summer months. All blood types are needed, and there are fewer donation appointments booked than expected in all provinces where Canadian Blood Services operates.

Canadian Blood Services needs about 18,000 blood donations a week to keep pace with hospital demand, but there has been a shortfall of between 1,500 and 2,500 appointments each week. "Blood has a shelf life of only 42 days, so today's donation will quickly make its way to a patient," said spokesperson Ron Vezina. "We need to ensure hospitals have the blood they need for everyday care and emergencies, especially as we head into the August long weekend when trauma cases and other urgent care needs could see an increase."

Héma-Quebec, which manages the blood supply in Quebec, has also seen a decline since the end of June. "Héma-Québec needs approximately 1,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients across the province," said spokesperson Patrice Lavoie. "Summer is traditionally a more fragile period for the blood supply. Many regular donors are on vacation or simply forget to book an appointment."

Canadian Blood Services is adding more opportunities for people to donate, including more weekend appointments at its centres. Several plasma-specific donor centres will also accept whole blood donations. People can book appointments at blood.ca, on the GiveBlood app or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE. In Quebec, people can book through hemaquebec.ca.