Montréal, June 11, 2012 – Every 90 seconds, someone gives blood in Québec. This simple act can make the difference between life and death for thousands of sick people who depend on blood products.
“Blood is a unique resource for which modern science has not yet found an artificial substitute. Knowing that 1,000 blood donations are required every day to meet the needs of hospitals, we can only admire the generosity and compassion of the donors and volunteers who make the gift of life possible. If patients today have access to a safe and sufficient blood supply, we owe it to these anonymous heroes who save lives by sharing their health,” notes Dr. Jean De Serres, President and CEO of Héma-Québec.
Officially recognized by the federal government in 2008, National Blood Donor Week provides an opportunity, from June 11 to 17, to underline the importance of giving blood and to celebrate the thousands of individuals who work behind the scenes for the wellbeing of their fellow citizens. The week coincides with World Blood Donor Day, an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), to be marked on June 14 in more than 80 countries around the world under the theme “Every blood donor is a hero.” This theme reminds us that behind every transfusion stands someone whose generosity makes a difference.
United for Life
National Blood Donor Week also marks the launch of Héma-Québec’s summer advertising campaign under the theme “United for Life.” This campaign features three surprising pairs of celebrities: chefs Ricardo Larrivée and Chuck Hughes, musicians Dan Bigras and Angèle Dubeau, and television hosts Guy A. Lepage and Julie Snyder. Each pair comprises personalities in direct competition or from opposite areas of their field who are nonetheless united in the cause of blood donation. You will see them on billboards, bus shelters, newspapers and social media and hear them on the radio. They will also be featured in a display campaign at blood drive sites and on Héma-Québec vehicles.
Other Initiatives
In addition, National Blood Donor Week will be marked in various ways, including by a special motion in the National Assembly. From June 15 to 17, visitors to the Eurêka! Festival on the Quays of the Old Port of Montréal will be able to learn more about blood and the blood types at an information stand organized by the Blood Donor Volunteer Association. Finally, donors and volunteers will be honoured at the various blood drives sites.
Some blood donation facts
In Québec, any healthy person, 18 years of age or older, who meets the eligibility criteria can give blood every 56 days, or six times a year.
- At least 1,000 blood donations are needed every day.
- Every 80 seconds, someone in Québec needs blood.
- Only 3% of eligible Quebecers contribute to the collective blood supply.
About Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes, human tissues and cord blood to meet the needs of all Quebecers; to provide and develop expertise along with specialized and innovative services and products in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.
Héma-Québec encompasses 1,300 employees, some 3,000 blood drives and more than 160,000 blood donors every year, 16,000 volunteers and more than 500,000 blood products delivered annually to Québec hospitals to meet the needs of patients.
Give blood. Give life.
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Information:
Valérie Legault
Information Officer
External Communications Department
Media Line : 514-832-0871
