Canadian Blood Services' donor base at 10-year low, prompting urgent call for donations
Canadian Blood Services is facing a dire situation, with its donor base and blood supply reaching the lowest level they’ve been in nearly a decade.
The agency is asking for people of all blood types to consider donating, after inventory began to significantly drop over recent weeks.
"Right now, we actually need all blood types, just because, and we're just asking every donor to come in and book," said Gayle Voyer, associate director of donor relations for the BC/Yukon region, Canadian Blood Services. “Anybody that's eligible or even if someone is interested in donating for the first time, we are asking them to book their appointments today and into the next several weeks.”
The agency is reporting a significant decrease in regular donors – around 31,000 – which began during the pandemic, leading to the smallest donor base in a decade. Voyer said people have perhaps forgotten about rolling up their sleeves and donating blood, as the country begins to return to pre-pandemic activities.
"I think with things just opening up, people having more options to travel. They've got summer vacation, it's just not top of mind, and we’re just asking people to please book in,” Voyer added.
While the agency said O-blood types are at its lowest levels, they’re in need of every blood type. Resident Joanne Mei is an O-blood type, and admitted she has put donating blood on hold over the last few years.
"I started donating like before I had kids, and then while I was pregnant, I couldn't donate blood. And then with the whole COVID reason, I kind of just stopped," said Mei. "Definitely I encourage everybody (to donate), especially with O-type – it's such a rare type of blood, and it's universal."
The agency is also encouraging people to keep their appointments, as cancelling at the last minute can mean it’s too late to make room for others to book.
"Throughout the summer we have seen a number of donors cancel very close to their appointment time, which makes that hard to fill those appointments," said Voyer.
About 10,000 appointments need to be filled across B.C. and the Yukon to increase blood supplies. You can visit www.blood.ca to book an appointment or to see if you are eligible to donate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.