Online initiative for blood donation

Times Contributor 

 

The Civic Centre was packed with blood donors on Sept. 18. 

“It is about my tenth time donating,” said Samantha Miller.

Recruiting for the Canadian Blood Services in Strathmore is usually set up through notices in the paper and posters at various businesses.

However, a new initiative to register online www.lifeblood.ca has been launched by the Canadian Blood Services. It is called Operation LifeBlood. It is hoped that it will encourage first-time donors. When people sign up, notices of blood needed and clinic dates and times will be sent out to the persons email.

To promote the initiative, celebrities throughout the province did good deeds such as carrying another’s bag, cleaning the lunchroom fridge, or handing out water. It was to show that one small deed makes a difference. The Blood Service hopes it will equate in people’s minds to blood donations. One donation can save up to three lives. Just to keep up with demand the service needs 80,000 people. 

“Our goal is to have 7,500 Albertans or more register for Operation LifeBlood to make a commitment to become future blood donors,” says Susan Matsumoto, Alberta Regional Director of Canadian Blood Services. “We’re asking Albertans – do you want to make a difference in your community? Then visit www.lifeblood.ca. It only takes three minutes or so to take the first step towards saving up to three lives.”