Blood donors needed in wake of cancellations
By Bobinec, Greg on March 17, 2020.
Greg Bobinec
Lethbridge Herald
As many businesses and workplaces shut down their services during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent heavy social interaction and spreading the infection, one organization is still heavily in need of community involvement for the betterment of society.
Canadian Blood Services has recently received a number of individual and group cancellations for blood donations, and with isolation and social distancing being enforced in communities, Canadian Blood Services is worried about the increase in cancellations and decrease of new appointments. Canadian Blood Services says their facilities are held to high sanitation standards and encourage people to donate blood
“We want to reassure the public that our clinics are safe,” says Delphine Denis, Media Relations Canadian Blood Services. “We are adhering to the guidance of subject matter experts, and federal and provincial agencies. Our protocols for screening donors and cleaning our sites have always been extremely robust; respiratory infections are common and we are prepared. However, as information about COVID-19 quickly evolves, we are taking additional measures to enhance our protocols to better protect anyone who comes through our doors.”
Blood donations are used daily around the country for a variety of different situations from surgeries, car accidents, trauma and cancer patients, and Denis says the need for donations doesn’t stop, even with COVID-19.
“Individual and group cancellations can have a dramatic impact on patients in Canada who continue to need blood products,” says Denis. “The increase in blood donation appointment cancellations is worrying, but a benefit of operating a national blood system is our ability to shift products around the country to meet hospital and patient needs.”
Current evidence and risk modelling suggest COVID-19 is not transmissible through blood and blood products. If someone who is wanting to donate has come into contact or had contracted COVID-19, they will be deferred for 56 days following a full recovery from the infection.
Canadian Blood Services is urging all healthy eligible donors to book and keep appointments, as the need for blood, stem cells, plasma and organ and tissue donors are consistent. Canadian Blood Services adheres to the latest guidelines from the Public Health Agency of Canada, including all recommendations for public gatherings during COVID-19. More information on COVID-19, along with requirements for booking a blood donation appointment can be found online at blood.ca, or by calling 1-888-236-6283.
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