Canadian Blood Services celebrates National Blood Donor Week June 13 – 19, 2011. National Blood Donor Week provides an opportunity to celebrate and thank the generous donors from coast to coast who support the blood system in Canada and help ensure the health of their fellow citizens. The week also builds awareness of the importance of blood, plasma, platelet and stem cell donations, and encourages more Canadians to give blood—especially during the challenging summer months.
This year’s theme for National Blood Donor Week is “Rally Together to Save Lives”. Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. That’s why Canadian Blood Services is rallying communities across the country to come together and show that collectively, blood donations can make a positive impact on someone’s life. To meet Canada’s future blood needs, we need to inspire more Canadians to join the movement.
We need communities to rally together because it takes many units of blood to save a patient. One blood donation equals one unit of blood. For instance, it can take:
50 units of blood to help someone in a car accident
2 units to help someone who needs brain surgery
5 units to help someone in cancer treatment
8 units a week to help someone with leukemia
5 units to save someone who needs cardiovascular surgery
2 to 8 units to help someone with internal bleeding
2 units a day to help someone undergoing a bone marrow transplant
4 units a month to help someone with Aplastic Anemia
2 units for a hip replacement
Other compelling numbers include...
43% of first time donors go with someone else to donate
Approximately 1 in 2 Canadians are eligible to give blood. Last year 1 in 60 actually did.
52 per cent of Canadians say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment. (Ipsos-Reid)
Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood
A healthy person can donate blood every 56 days
Canadian Blood Services is in your community – there are over 20 000 clinics nationwide
The donation process takes 1 hour – actual collection only takes approx 10-15 minutes
To book an appointment to give blood, call 1-888-2-donate (1-888-236-6283)
Visit online at www.blood.ca or visit www.bloodsignal.ca
If giving blood isn't your thing...why not sign up to be a organ donor! Or do both!!
