Canadian Blood Services provides essential products and services for patients in Canada. As National Blood Donor Week continues, here are some ways to support their efforts:
- Donate blood, plasma or platelets: Over 100,000 new donors are needed each year to ensure reliable access to blood and blood products for patients, where and when they need it. To donate, you must:
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- Be 17 years of age or older.
- Be in good general health.
- Carry government-issued ID or a Canadian Blood Services donor card.
- Meet other eligibility requirements. Learn more at blood.ca/Am-I-Eligible.
- Make a one-time or recurring financial donation to Canadian Blood Services, or launch a fundraising event with proceeds in support of Canadian Blood Services — charitable Registration no. 870157641RR0001: For those who wish to increase their impact and complement their blood, plasma or platelet donation — or, currently unable to donate blood, plasma or platelets — a financial gift is a meaningful way to help make a lifesaving difference.
Financial donations help patients by strengthening our lifesaving programs and initiatives in five key areas: blood, stem cells, plasma, organs and tissues and research and innovation. For more information, visit give.blood.ca.
- Join the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry or, if you’re an expectant mom in Ottawa, Brampton, Edmonton or Vancouver, donate your baby’s umbilical cord blood: Each year, hundreds of patients in Canada with blood diseases and disorders, including cancers, need a stem cell transplant to save their life — many of whom are facing challenges finding a matching donor.
To join the stem cell registry, you must be:
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- Between the age of 17 and 35.
- In good general health.
- Free of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B and C.
- Free of health issues including cancer, blood diseases, insulin-dependent diabetes, certain heart conditions, etc.
- Willing to be a donor to any patient in need.
- Confirm your eligibility and start your registration at blood.ca/StemCells.
Expectant moms can also help patients in need of a lifesaving stem cell transplant by donating their babies’ cord blood. Canadian Blood Services’ Cord Blood Bank collects and stores cord blood for future use by any patient in need of a stem cell transplant. Donating cord blood is free, easy and poses no risk to mom or baby. Learn more at blood.ca/CordBlood.
- Register your intent to donate organs and tissues and share your decision with your family: There are approximately 4,400 Canadians waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant with more than 3,000 Canadians on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Not everyone in need of a vital organ receives a transplant. In fact, on average, 250 Canadians die each year waiting. Learn more and register your intent at blood.ca/Organs-Tissues.
Healthy adults can also be considered for living organ donation. For instance, a healthy person can give (donate) a kidney to someone whose kidneys aren’t working and still live a healthy normal life. This gift is living kidney donation. Learn more about living donation at blood.ca/living-donation.
- Join our Partners for Life program: Together with your team, you can make a lifesaving difference for those who live, work and play in your community and across Canada. Register a new team at blood.ca/partner-registration or join an existing team at blood.ca/pfl.
- Become a Canadian Blood Services volunteer: Whether it’s supporting blood donors, recruiting new donors, or raising awareness about the importance of blood, plasma, stem cell or organ and tissue donation, volunteers help save lives. Sign up at blood.ca/volunteers.