Your Digest

Changes to mask and physical distancing measures in effect next week

On Monday, July 25, we will suspend mandatory masks and physical distancing for staff, donors and visitors in our buildings, vehicles and collections events. Although no longer required, masks are welcome in our environments, and we will continue to make masks available to anyone who may choose to wear one. Everyone has their own reason for wearing or not wearing a mask. We ask that you please respect people’s choice to continue wearing a mask or to maintain physical distance from others where possible. Employees are reminded that they should stay home if not feeling well. Read more details about these changes on the employee portal under “Questions & Answers”. If you have any further questions, please send them to communications@blood.ca

Immediate need for weekend heroes

Thousands of open donation appointments must be filled this summer to ensure patients in Canada have access to lifesaving blood products where and when they need it. The number of people who donate regularly has decreased by 31,000 during the pandemic, resulting in the smallest donor base in a decade. We have an immediate need for new and returning donors to join Canada’s Lifeline. We turn to you, our employees, once again, to help us spread the word. Please share our messages of need to your own networks, whether it’s talking about it at the neighbourhood barbeque, sharing a social media post, challenging a friend to donate with you or simply thanking someone you know who has recently donated. Over 100,000 new donors are needed in Canada this year to keep up with demand. Summer

months are always a challenge for collections, but it is important to remember that patient need doesn’t pause for good weather. Follow @CanadasLifeline social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok) and help us highlight the urgent need for donors.

STORY: Saving lives while inspiring the next generation of blood donors

When Henry Proske donated blood for the first time more than 50 years ago, he was following the example of a girl he wanted to impress. “She had a very rare blood type — I think it was AB-negative — so quite often the Red Cross [Canada’s former blood operator] would call her and say ‘we have an emergency at the hospital, and the patient has AB-negative blood, and we don’t have a supply,’” recalls Henry, who lives in Langley, B.C. “And they would send a taxi to her work to take her to the hospital to donate blood. “I remember how impressed I was with that. So I decided, O.K., I’m going to donate as well.” Henry recently hit 164 donations and is still going strong. He’s also inspired young adults, including his own children, to become blood donors. Read more at blood.ca/stories.

Question of the day

I know this is Cord Blood Awareness Month and wondered what happens to the cord blood used in research?

Our Cord Blood for Research Program facilitates research that could lead to new discoveries and improvements in patient care. Through the program, we distribute donated cord blood to researchers helping to increase our knowledge about current processes for collecting, manufacturing and storing cord blood. Additionally, blood stem cells obtained from cord blood are being investigated in the development of new treatments for many diseases. Such stem cell research provides hope for more safe and effective medical therapies in the future. Donated cord blood can only be sent to a researcher in Canada if all of the following applies:

• The cord blood unit is unsuitable for banking or transplantation.
• The delivering parent has given their consent for their baby’s cord blood to be used for biomedical research.
• The research project in question has been approved.

Visit blood.ca to read more about the importance of research with cord blood.