Roll Up Your Sleeves: Canada’s Blood Donor Shortage
In recent years, Canada has been grappling with a pressing concern — a shortage of blood donors. This issue has sent shockwaves through the healthcare community, highlighting the urgent need for more individuals to step up and donate blood.
Blood donations play a crucial role in our healthcare system, providing life-saving support to patients in need. However, while the demand for blood transfusions continues to rise, the number of donors remains insufficient. This shortage not only strains medical resources but also jeopardizes the timely and effective treatment of patients across the country.
Several factors contribute to the blood donor shortage in Canada. One significant factor is the aging population, as older individuals are often ineligible to donate due to certain health conditions. Additionally, statistics show that the major wave of decrease in blood donors happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this virus is no longer a major threat to our community, its lasting effects sure are.
How bad is the shortage?
As mentioned, the aging population who age out of the eligible blood donor criteria is one of the main reasons Canada is currently in shortage. According to a study in 2010, repeat donors (those who donate multiple times) who were 55 years or older made up 18% of blood donors. The study’s prediction was that in the next 10 years, these donors would unfortunately leave the pool of blood donors as they continue to age.
Furthermore, from February 2020 to May 2020, there was a decrease in blood collection due to a drop in donor attendance and reduced capacity at blood donation centers. Prior to the pandemic, donation centers could accommodate over 70,000 donors per month. However, in May 2020, only 54,738 donors visited the centers. Due to this, there was a decline in the total number of blood donations where the baseline number of about 200,000 blood collections per quarter before the pandemic decreased to around 160,000 collections by the second quarter of 2020.
As of June 2023, the Canadian Blood Services have said that they need to fill about 150,000 appointments for blood and plasma donations.
What else can I donate?
Besides donating blood, blood banks are also looking for plasma donors. Plasma is the protein-rich liquid in the blood that helps other parts of the blood move throughout the body. It supports the immune system and helps control excessive bleeding. This is why plasma donations are important to help treat bleeding disorders, liver diseases and different types of cancer.
Plasma helps patients with immune deficiencies, rare blood disorders, various cancers, tetanus infections, nervous system disorders, bleeding disorders, kidney and liver diseases, severe burns, surgeries, newborns with Rh disease and much more.
How do I donate?
Every blood donation has the potential to save lives and make a significant difference in the lives of patients and their families. By addressing the blood donor shortage in Canada, we can ensure that everyone in need receives the life-saving blood transfusions they require.
Consider becoming a blood donor today and join the movement to alleviate the Canadian blood donor shortages by visiting the Canadian Blood Services website to learn more, or to book a donation appointment!
About the Author:
Jenny Pham is a McMaster Life Sci student. She is currently working as a Math & English tutor, a volunteer with Peel Health at a long-term care center, a passionate MEDLIFE chapter founder, and an amateur writer looking to combine her passions for medicine and writing. Like others around her, she’s a second-generation immigrant working towards a career in medicine and education, looking to continue advocating for underprivileged communities as a physician, through research, and education. You can connect with her on LinkedIn!
