Canadian Blood Services is asking Canadians to get Behind the Blood Signal when the blood drop shaped icon is activated during National Blood Donor Week, June 10 to 16.
The Blood Signal is intended to connect people to the idea of making a donation at specific times of the year when the need for blood is greatest—like summer. Behind the Blood Signal was chosen as this year’s theme for National Blood Donor Week to educate more Canadians that when they see the Blood Signal, it means ‘give blood now’.
Throughout National Blood Donor Week, Canadian Blood Services is also asking Canadians to “go social” in supporting the Blood Signal by:
- Visiting Mosaic Me at http://www.mosaicme.ca/. Individuals can post pictures of themselves donating, promoting or otherwise supporting patients through blood donation that will form in the shape of the Blood Signal.
- Checking out www.facebook.com/CanadianBloodServices for the launch of a new Behind the Blood Signal video. Supporters are asked to “like” and “share” the video as a way of getting Behind the Blood Signal.
- Throughout the week donors are also encouraged to check in at blood donor clinics using their mobile devices as another way of showing they are getting Behind the Blood Signal.
Upcoming clinics in Campbell River at the Campbell River Community Hall, 401-11th Avenue, where local residents can also get Behind the Blood Signal by donating blood include:
- June 25, 2:15 to 8:15 p.m.
- June 26 & 27, 12 to 6 p.m.
“During National Blood Donor Week, make a plan to get behind the Blood Signal, because hospital patients in this community rely on your generosity,” said Chris Barron, partnership specialist with Canadian Blood Services. “The Blood Signal is intended to connect people to the idea of giving blood, rallying people in their communities to come together and save lives.”
This year, patients at more than 400 hospitals nationwide and 86 hospitals in the B.C. and Yukon region are depending on blood donors to help save or improve their lives from trauma, disease and other illness. In 2012-13, Canadian Blood Services shipped more than 137,000 units of red blood cells, blood plasma or platelets to B.C. hospitals to help meet patients’ needs.
Donors who give blood during Blood Signal are eligible to give again at the beginning of August. To book an appointment, go online to www.blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Making an appointment now will help lay the foundation for strong blood collections this summer.
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 42 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system. For more information go to blood.ca.