Last Updated on: 22nd March 2020, 09:57 am
Posting this because even though it feels like it’s all Coronavirus all the time, there are still people going through other, non-COVID-19 medical things who could really use your help if you’re able. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t thought about our blood supply and whether or not they still wanted us out there donating in light of all the social distancing and such that we’re being encouraged to do, but it seems they do want us, so if we can help, we probably should.
Canadian Blood Services is concerned by a recent spike in appointment cancellations in several cities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the organization responsible for the national blood system outside Quebec, we are determined to keep our promise to help every patient, match every need and serve every Canadian. To do that we require the ongoing generosity and commitment of donors.
“Patients depend on these lifesaving donations,” says Dr. Isra Levy, Canadian Blood Services’ vice-president of medical affairs and innovation. “Every day they are needed for patients undergoing surgery and cancer treatment, as well as to save lives following traumas such as motor vehicle accidents.”Canadian Blood Services operates a national blood inventory where products are regularly shifted around the country to meet hospital and patient needs. The inventory is currently strong, but the recent increase in cancellations is worrying, particularly in light of the blood shortages already being reported in other countries affected by COVID-19.
Donating blood in Canada continues to be safe. Our robust cleaning and infection-control practices protect all donors, staff and volunteers. All prospective donors are also carefully screened for any symptoms of illness, including very mild ones. This screening occurs during both appointment booking and upon arrival at the donor centre or event. Those with any symptoms are not allowed to donate blood and are instructed not to visit.“Our donor centres are islands of wellness within Canada’s health system,” says Dr. Levy, a public health expert and a former medical officer of health for the city of Ottawa. “They are not places where sick people gather.”
We urge all healthy eligible donors to book and keep appointments. The need is constant for blood, stem cells, plasma and organ and tissue donors. Canadian Blood Services adheres to the latest guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada including all recommendations for public gatherings during COVID-19. Should the agency’s recommendations change we will act immediately to keep donors safe.
More information on COVID-19 is available at blood.ca/covid19. To make an appointment to donate, download the GiveBlood app, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or book now at blood.ca. Walk-in appointments are also available at all locations.
If they want blood that badly, perhaps they should consider getting rid of their ridiculous policy about Jay sexually active men. They make gay men of seen for sex for at least three months before they are allowed to donate blood, and while that may have made sense during the AIDS epidemic, that no longer makes sense at this point. Give me a good reason why that needs to continue, or fix the problem, and then I will be happy to start donating again.
Believe it or not, 3 months is actually a huge step up. It used to be a year. And While I understand that people may not like the policy, I always thought that it was a bit of a mean-spirited thing for them to boycott because it’s a protest that’s potentially putting innocent people’s lives in danger.
Weren’t we just talking the other day about someone who has HIV from a transfusion of bad blood? They’re trying to be careful. They won’t even take my blood because I used human growth hormone as a child. I’m sure they don’t have a hate on for short little kidlet people. They’ve probably found that there’s some problem with people whose blood has contacted human growth hormone and have decided it’s not worth the risk. And my dad needed nearly 2 people’s worth of blood in heart surgery back in December. I would hate to see there to have not been enough blood for him because everybody thought the easy way to fix crappy policies was to not donate.