Every summer Canadian Blood Services plans for a slump in donations, but this year appointments have fallen well below typical patterns. The organization says 18,000 appointments are needed every week to keep up with demand, but since June 1, they have fallen short by nearly 20 per cent each week. That shortfall is forcing health-care workers to tap into existing inventory to meet patient needs. “If we continue to see the current levels of supply decline, it’s not sustainable for patient care,” Eric Belden, community development manager at Canadian Blood Services told CTV News. The organization says there is no “silver bullet” to explain this year’s decline in appointments, calling the situation “unusual.” More weekend appointments have been added at donor centres across the country, to provide more opportunities for people to donate. “We are trying to meet donors where they are at,” Belden said, adding that they are also reaching out to donors who have not booked in a while. There are concerns the upcoming holiday weekend could lead to a surge in demand for blood products. “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,” said Ron Vezina, vice-president of donor engagement and corporate reputation at Canadian Blood Services, in a news release Wednesday. Canadian Blood Services says their donor base has increased from this time last year, but many people are still not aware that they are eligible to donate. “We are reviewing and updating our eligibility criteria all the time. So as new technologies get invented and get implemented into our blood supply, more people are eligible to donate,” Belden said. Nearly three years ago, Health Canada lifted a ban on donations from people who spent long periods of time in the United Kingdom, Ireland or France in the 1980s and 1990s. The decades-long rule was a precaution to prevent the transmission of mad cow disease through blood transfusions from people who had a higher likelihood of being exposed. Canadian Blood Services says almost 30 years of research and surveillance has made it clear that people who weren’t eligible to donate under the travel criteria can do so safely. In 2022, the organization eliminated the three-month donor deferral period for gay and bisexual men, as well as some others in the LGBTQ2S+ community. “There is a good chance that even if you weren’t eligible five years ago, you might be able to donate today,” Belden said. First time donors are encouraged to book an appointment with a friend, and to drink a lot of water, eat a good meal, and get a good night’s sleep before they donate. “You are going to walk away knowing that within days the blood that you just donated is going to be transfused into a patient in a hospital, and help them get the life saving treatment that they need,” Belden said. Eligible donors are asked to book an appointment at the Canadian Blood Services website, through the GiveBlood app or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE. With files from The Canadian Press
