You have the power to save lives.
Even better news? All you need to do is book your first appointment at Canadian Blood Services new Plasma Donor Centre, right here in Abbotsford, BC.
There’s no better time than now to get started on your lifesaving journey: National Blood Donor Week is June 11 to 17 and Canadian Blood Services needs more than 100,000 new blood and plasma donors to meet patient needs.
There are over 17.5 million eligible donors in Canada, but less than 2% donate blood or plasma.
“We know Canadians are generous people, however there are simply not enough folks donating blood and blood products regularly,” says Ron Vezina, Canadian Blood Services’ vice-president of public affairs. “People tend to think ‘someone else will do it.’ The reality is, there is a small group of dedicated donors filling hospital blood banks. We are grateful for their commitment, but when they aren’t able to donate, it leaves a gap. That could mean the difference between life or death for a patient.”
Consider the numbers: One in two people have either required blood and plasma or know someone who has, while one in two people are also eligible to donate, only one in 81 will actually donate.
Canadian Blood Services opened a new donor centre here in Abbotsford on April 3. Open six days a week and conveniently located at the West Oaks Mall (near Michaels and Party City), the donor centre is entirely dedicated to plasma donations. Plasma is the protein-rich liquid in blood that helps other blood components circulate throughout your body. Plasma donated in Abbotsford is made into life saving medications for patients in Canada — many have no other treatment option. These lifesaving medications treat patients with immunodeficiency, autoimmune and neurological disorders, among other medical conditions.
Make all the difference today and be one of the 100,000 new donors needed. Download the GiveBlood app on android or Apple, visit blood.ca, or call 1 888 2DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to join Canada’s Lifeline and book a plasma donation appointment today.
