Latest news with #CanadianBloodServices
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
CHEO rolls up its sleeves to support Canadian Blood Services campaign to recruit new donors
CHEO joined Canadian Blood Services new 'Who's Saving Who' campaign, to recruit one million new donors. CTV's Natalie van Rooy has more. It's a lifesaving move that only takes a few minutes out of your day. Donating blood is critical for thousands of Canadians who desperately need donors to survive every year. On Friday, the Canadian Blood Services launched a new partnership with CHEO to support the 'Who's Saving Who' campaign, the agency's ambitious goal to recruit one million new blood donors by 2030. 'We know that the demand for blood and plasma is continuing to grow across the country and that it's really lifesaving donations that are needed by kids that come to CHEO,' said Dr. Vera Etches, CHEO president and CEO. 'We partnered to really promote new donors to come forward.' Vera Etches CHEO president Dr. Vera Etches donates blood as part of the 'Who's Saving Who' campaign with Canadian Blood Services on Friday. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa) This is the first time Ottawa's children's hospital has partnered with Canadian Blood Services to recruit new blood donors. 'If we look at red blood cells, which is one of the most important products that we collect, the demand for red blood cells in Canada is increasing about two per cent per year. So, we estimate about a 10 per cent growth over the next five years,' said Dr. Graham D. Sher, Canadian Blood Services CEO. 'The demand for plasma, which is the liquid portion of blood, is going up at about 10 per cent per year or almost 50 per cent over the next five years.' The act of giving blood will save lives, especially for the children at CHEO who benefit from blood donations. 'I think sometimes people don't realize in their day to day, that it can take a lot of a blood donation or transfusions to get a kid through cancer treatment or when there's a serious injury,' said Dr. Etches. The whole process of donating only takes minutes but is also meaningful for those who are here. 'I had a son who was born at 26 weeks who needed a lot of blood,' said Thomas Wismer, who was donating blood on Friday. 'I currently have a father who's got leukemia and he's having weekly blood transfusions. You need to give back and appreciate that this is what's been keeping them alive.' These blood donations will help fulfill the need at CHEO as well. 'For the red blood donors, the one that is most commonly needed, over 2,500 donors of blood is needed every year at CHEO and that serves more children than that because one donor's blood can be split and support more than one child,' said Dr. Etches. Canadian Blood Services launched the new 'Who's Saving Who' campaign in May, which is designated to highlight the emotional connection and meaningful experience donors gain when they donate blood. The agency is hoping to expand partnerships to more hospitals across Canada.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
‘All types are needed': Canadian Blood Services urges people to donate this summer
Canadian Blood Services chats about the increased need for blood donations during the summer months. Canadian Blood Services chats about the increased need for blood donations during the summer months. Canadian Blood Services is asking people to roll up their sleeves and donate this summer as the organization deals with an increased need. Halifax-based community development manager Krysta Hanakowski says there are a few times a year where it's harder than others to collect blood. 'And summer is the worst, and that's because Nova Scotia's beautiful, there's a lot of other things to do in the summer. Our regular donors are away on vacation, so it's just a real struggle to collect,' she told CTV Atlantic's Crystal Garrett. 'In addition to that, there's also numerous long weekends, so we have long weekends in July, August and September, and long weekends are also notoriously difficult to collect blood on.' Hanakowski says demand is actually higher now than it has been at any point in the past 10 years. 'Demand is only increasing and, as well, in Nova Scotia, we have a population that's both aging and growing, so all those things put together mean that we just need more people to come donate,' she says. Canadian Blood Services says there isn't a type of blood that it doesn't need, and Hanakowski points to the misconception that you need to know your blood type before you donate. 'You don't need to know that. After you donate, we will give you a card with your blood type on it, but all types are needed,' she says. 'You'll hear especially a cry for o-negative blood all the time, and that's because it's used more than others in an emergency situation – they're just going to give people o-negative blood because it's safe for everyone.' Even if you donate once, it doesn't last forever. Red blood cells can only be stored for up to 42 days. 'And we have blood going from our clinic to our lab to the hospitals every day, so that's why we constantly need people in and donating to help replenish the product, we're open six days a week in Halifax, we're only closed on Sundays, so there's lots of opportunities for people to come out and help.' Men can donate every 56 days and women can donate blood every 84 days. Hanakowski says it's a great opportunity because that means everybody can come and donate once this summer. 'We're only asking for one hour of people's time over the course of summer, so plan a fun summer, but try and give us that one hour and come experience kind of how you feel after helping save somebody's life,' she says. Even if a person can't donate themselves, Hanakowski adds there are other ways to help. 'We'd love people to help recruit other donors, have the conversation with your friends and family to help us keep it top of mind for people,' she says. 'You can follow us on socials, help spread the news there, and if you're 17 to 35 you can also join the stem cell registry. You can give financially, you can come and volunteer, there's lots of ways to become involved outside of donating blood.' People can book an appointment on the GiveBlood app or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Global News
28-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
‘Really saving lives': Call for blood donors ahead of busy summer season
Canadian Blood Services is asking people to think about rolling up their sleeves and sign up as a donor this summer, a time of year when the need for blood often surges. The organization says appointment bookings are falling short of hospital demand for both blood and plasma. Edmonton, for example, still has around 200 appointment slots open before July 1st. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It says half of Canadians are eligible to donate blood, but only about one in 76 actually do. All blood types are needed, but O-negative, O-positive and B-negative are extremely vital. 'Donating is such a meaningful experience,' Canadian Blood Services spokesperson Tianna Doyle said. 'You are really saving people's lives when you come out and spend that hour with us. The needle is only in your arm for five to 10 minutes, so it's a really small component of the actual appointment time.' Story continues below advertisement Canadian Blood Services is aiming for one million new donors over the next five years. To book an appointment, head to or call 1-888- 2-Donate.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
‘We have a huge need': Canadian Blood Services urges donors to book over long weekend
Canadian Blood Services on Wharncliffe Road South in London, Ont. on June 27, 2025. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London) As Canadians gear up for the Canada Day long weekend, Canadian Blood Services is reminding the public there's still time and still a pressing need to donate blood. Clinics, including the donor centre on Wharncliffe Road South in London, will remain open on July 1. Appointments are available throughout the weekend. 'We have a huge need for donors during the summer months,' said Marisa Gatfield of Canadian Blood Services. 'We find that donors are busy with vacations, enjoying family time with nice weather.' The need for blood doesn't pause for holidays, and neither do clinics. Staff said the process is straightforward, even for first-time donors. 'When you come in to donate, make sure you bring a physical piece of government-issued ID, be well hydrated, have eaten and have a good night's sleep and the rest, leave to us and we'll walk you through the entire process,' explained Gatfield. For many donors, giving blood is a meaningful routine. 'Easy, fast. And they are so welcoming and heartwarming,' said Maram Aalloulou. 'I love coming here every once in a while.' John Davidson donates regularly to manage his hemochromatosis, a condition that results in too much iron in the blood. 'It brings my iron level down, and it's good for the blood centre,' he said. Others, like Eric Peloquin, donate out of personal connection. 'I come to give blood because it makes me feel good,' he said. 'Over the years, members of my family and some friends needed blood transfusions.' Then there are long-time donors like Bob Moynihan, who has donated weekly for 30 years. 'It started as a competition with a friend to try and catch him. He had more donations, and I got him,' Moynihan said with a laugh. Canadian Blood Services says 75 per cent of donors view giving blood as part of their Canadian identity — a small act with life-saving impact. To book an appointment, visit use the GiveBlood app, or call 1-888-2-DONATE.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Edmontonians top blood donors, new centre aims to further improve numbers
Donors give blood at the grand opening of the new Canadian Blood Services' Edmonton collection centre on June 19, 2025. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton) Edmonton is vying to be the top contender in Canada in blood donations and officials say a new centre could help. Canadian Blood Services (CBS) held a grand opening for its new centre on 106 Street and 42 Avenue on Thursday. Dr. Graham Sher, CBS CEO, said the new centre is one of Canada's largest and offers an improved experience for staff and donors, which is critical in keeping repeat donors. 'Donors tell us consistently that one of the most important things they want in order to keep coming back is time and convenience,' he said, adding the new centre is more spacious, efficient and easier to park at. There are 42 collection centres across Canada, but not all do what the Edmonton centre does in collecting plasma and platelets as well. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, is in particularly high demand, Sher said. 'Because from plasma, we can make many, many important drugs – life-saving drugs,' he said. 'And the demand for these plasma-derived drugs is growing enormously.' Jacob Guziak Jacob Guziak (right) and his mother Andrea Fernandez attend the grand opening of the new Canadian Blood Services' Edmonton collection centre on June 19, 2025. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton) Jacob Guziak was born with an immune disorder known as bubble-boy disorder. He has relied on monthly treatments with plasma products since he was a baby. 'Donors are very important, because they are the ones giving us these antibodies that Jacob cannot create yet,' said his mother Andrea Fernandez. 'In reality, every donor is giving us another birthday, another smile, another day.' Sher said it can take thousands of plasma donors to make the treatment Guziak needs each month. He hopes the improved experience at the Edmonton centre will help the city continue to be a top collector. 'We would love Edmonton to keep performing the way it is, and if it became the top performer in the country, that would be amazing,' he added. The new centre opened for donations in late April. You can check your eligibility to donate blood or book an appointment on the CBS website.
