National Blood Donor Week
June 14 - June 20, 2010

Celebrating Blood Donors from Coast to Coast

Canadian Blood Services is proud to celebrate National Blood Donor Week June 14 - 20. The week launches on World Blood Donor Day - Monday, June 14.

National Blood Donor Week is an opportunity for Canadian Blood Services to say thank you to the 423,000 donors from coast to coast who keep our blood system strong. We appreciate the generous Canadians who donate blood, plasma, platelets and stem cells-used every day to help patients in need. As we celebrate our current donors, we ask more people to join them.

This year's theme for the week is Youth: New Blood for the World. As the demand for blood increases year after year, it's important for Canadian Blood Services to continue to recruit a new generation of blood donors to meet hospital demand.

While the theme for National Blood Donor Week is young donors, Canadian Blood Services encourages people of all ages to become regular blood donors.

Eligible individuals can give blood every 56 days or six times a year. Considering each blood donation can help save up to three lives, one person can help up to 18 patients in just one year!

National Blood Donor Week takes place at the beginning of summer, a challenging time of year to collect blood, since donors change their routines, take vacations, travel and are busy with outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the need for blood does not take a summer vacation.

Between National Blood Donor Week and the end of August, Canadian Blood Services needs about 194,000 donors to give blood across Canada.

f you have always thought about giving blood or haven't given in some time, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) today to book your appointment.

Youth Blood Donor Facts

• Last year, there were about 423,000 blood donors in Canada.
• Donors aged 17 - 24 make up approximately 20 per cent (or one fifth) of our active donor base (about 85,000).
• Donors aged 17 - 24 made about 139,000 blood donations last year, or 15 per cent of all blood donations in Canada.
• Donors aged 17 - 24 accounted for 46 per cent of all new blood donors in Canada last year.
• As Canada's population ages, many of our loyal donors will become ineligible to donate blood within the next decade. In fact, many will become recipients of blood and blood products.
• People can begin donating blood as early as 17 years of age.

About National Blood Donor Week

In 2008, a bill was passed by the federal government recognizing National Blood Donor Week as an opportunity to celebrate and thank the donors and volunteers supporting the blood system in Canada who help ensure the health of their fellow citizens. The week also builds awareness of the importance of blood, plasma, platelet and stem cell donations, and encourages Canadians to donate or volunteer - especially during the challenging summer months.

About World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day falls within National Blood Donor Week on June 14 - the birth date of Karl Landsteiner, a pioneer of transfusion medicine. Every year, the World Health Organization selects a country to host international celebrations. This year, Spain will host World Blood Donor Day with the theme "New blood for the world". Celebrations will centre in Barcelona.