The importance of giving blood

Area resident Sophie Guimond rolled up her sleeve and gave the gift of life at the blood donor clinic held at VCI.

Carolyn Boucher knows first-hand that blood donation saves lives.

Boucher, who is the community development co-ordinator, donor services, told The Review that when her daughter was just a toddler, she was diagnosed with cancer and needed blood products to survive.

Today, her little girl is a happy and healthy 12-year-old, a miracle Boucher credits to the blood products her daughter desperately needed and received.

"I hate to think what would have happened had the blood products not been available," she said during an interview at the blood donor clinic held at Vankleek Hill Collegiate Instritute on Thursday, March 4. "Our statistics state that 52 per cent of all Canadians say they or someone they know have needed blood or blood products. In my work, I have learned that it's quite likely much more than 52 per cent of Canadians benefit from the work we do."

Last Thursday's clinic fell short of its 125-unit goal, Boucher noted, with 94 units collected.
"When you consider that each unit of blood can save or improve up to three lives, Vankleek Hill's generosity benefited 282 Canadians," Boucher noted.
In order to reach its goal, Boucher said the clinic would have needed 190 donors. As of Thursday at 4 p.m., the clinic was only 62 per cent booked.

"Obviously, we are pleased with every unit of blood we collect, regardless of whether or not we meet our target," she commented. "The collection of blood and blood products is absolutely vital and we appreciate each and every donor who shows up to donate. I think sometimes, people feel we take their donations for granted, especially in small communities like Vankleek Hill. But we don't - we value every person who donates."

Boucher noted that approximately every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. One blood donation , in just one hour, can save up to three lives.

In an effort to recruit more donors, Boucher said Canadian Blood Services has decided to take advantage of the surge in popularity of social networking and marketing sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

"We know that's the best possible way to reach out to people, especially younger donors, which we are trying to attract all the time," she remarked. "We need to attract 90,000 new donors annually in Canada because our population is aging. That's why our donor recruitment strategy has to be so intense. For every 15 people I ask, one will say yes. It's tough, but we're working very hard to get the word out."

In addition to recruiting through Facebook, Twitter and numerous public speaking engagements, Boucher said Canadian Blood Services has launched Partners for Life, a program that encourages businesses, corporations, service clubs and community organizations to pledge blood donations.

As members of this life-saving program people can demonstrate their commitment to saving lives through donating blood, platelets and plasma.

"I think this is a great way for people to get involved and there's no financial commitment, which a lot of people love," Boucher explained. "Instead of donating money, people within these organizations pledge to donate blood."

There will be a blood donor clinic in Casselman on Monday, March 22 from %:30 to 8:30 p.m. at L'Academie de la Seigneurie, which is located at 731 rue des pommiers.

There will also be a blood donor clinic in Alfred on Wednesday, March 31 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 520 Saint-Phillippe Street.

For more information on Canadian Blood Services or how you can donate, please visit www.bloodservices.ca or call 1-800-2-DONATE (1-800-236-6283).