Canadian Blood Services is in need of donations before Thanksgiving

Ahead of the holiday season, many Canadians are focused on giving back to one another in certain ways, shapes, or forms.

Whether it be Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday, or even Christmas, we all celebrate the gift of giving to our loved ones and people who are important to us.

But there is one way of giving that most don’t consider, and it’s one of the most important of all; it very well could save someone’s life.

We’re talking about giving blood; not only do we all have it, but half of all Canadians are actually eligible to give it. Despite this, less than 4% actually do.

Canadian Blood Services is now urging everyone who is eligible to go ahead and donate at a time when it is needed most.

According to CBS, donated blood is delivered to over 700 hospitals across Canada and approximately 17,000 units of blood are needed each week.

In total, each year, over 100,000 new blood donors are needed to help meet patient needs in Canada.

That means that every 60 seconds, someone in Canada needs blood.

Victoria is in need, too

Canadian Blood Services says that the Victoria Donor Centre has targets between 400 and 500 units weekly, depending on their events.

Currently, there are hundreds of open appointments in Victoria for the month alone; all spots that need to be filled by willing donors.

The Victoria donor centre is centrally located in Saanich, easily accessible and right across from Uptown Shopping Centre.

Is it still safe to donate blood during the pandemic?

Canadian Blood Services wants to reassure people that it is still completely safe to donate amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only are they pre-screening donors about their symptoms and travel history before they’re allowed to enter one of their donation centres, donors will also complete a temperature check.

All workers at the blood donor clinics practice physical distancing whenever possible, and they’re continuing to take infection control measures at all of their facilities.

Face masks have also continue to be a mandatory requirement while within all donor centres as well.

How to donate

Thinking about becoming a first-time donor? Here are a few simple steps to you get started:

Find out if you’re eligible. Take CBS’ quiz and learn more about the ABCs of eligibility.
Find a donor centre near you.
Book an appointment. Booking in advance helps our clinic run smoothly and also helps us ensure your first donation experience is a good one.
Learn more about the process.

Other ways to help

Not eligible to donate blood, or just want to give a little extra? There are lots of ways to join Canada’s lifeline!

You can donate your time as a volunteer with CBS, which is priceless, and on top of that, not only can you make financial donations to Canadian Blood Services, you can also launch online fundraisers, or even donate your car.

Check out how you can give even more.