CHEO rolls up its sleeves to support Canadian Blood Services campaign to recruit new donors

CHEO joined Canadian Blood Services new “Who’s Saving Who” campaign, to recruit one million new donors. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy has more.

It’s a lifesaving move that only takes a few minutes out of your day. Donating blood is critical for thousands of Canadians who desperately need donors to survive every year.

On Friday, the Canadian Blood Services launched a new partnership with CHEO to support the “Who’s Saving Who” campaign, the agency’s ambitious goal to recruit one million new blood donors by 2030.

“We know that the demand for blood and plasma is continuing to grow across the country and that it’s really lifesaving donations that are needed by kids that come to CHEO,” said Dr. Vera Etches, CHEO president and CEO. “We partnered to really promote new donors to come forward.”

This is the first time Ottawa’s children’s hospital has partnered with Canadian Blood Services to recruit new blood donors.

“If we look at red blood cells, which is one of the most important products that we collect, the demand for red blood cells in Canada is increasing about two per cent per year. So, we estimate about a 10 per cent growth over the next five years,” said Dr. Graham D. Sher, Canadian Blood Services CEO. “The demand for plasma, which is the liquid portion of blood, is going up at about 10 per cent per year or almost 50 per cent over the next five years.”

The act of giving blood will save lives, especially for the children at CHEO who benefit from blood donations.

“I think sometimes people don’t realize in their day to day, that it can take a lot of a blood donation or transfusions to get a kid through cancer treatment or when there’s a serious injury,” said Dr. Etches.

The whole process of donating only takes minutes but is also meaningful for those who are here.

“I had a son who was born at 26 weeks who needed a lot of blood,” said Thomas Wismer, who was donating blood on Friday.

“I currently have a father who’s got leukemia and he’s having weekly blood transfusions. You need to give back and appreciate that this is what’s been keeping them alive.”

These blood donations will help fulfill the need at CHEO as well.

“For the red blood donors, the one that is most commonly needed, over 2,500 donors of blood is needed every year at CHEO and that serves more children than that because one donor’s blood can be split and support more than one child,” said Dr. Etches.

Canadian Blood Services launched the new “Who’s Saving Who” campaign in May, which is designated to highlight the emotional connection and meaningful experience donors gain when they donate blood. The agency is hoping to expand partnerships to more hospitals across Canada.

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