10th annual National Blood Donor Week - Give Blood. Give Life

MONTRÉAL, June 11, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - From June 11 to 17, Héma-Québec marks the 10th annual National Blood Donor Week. It is an opportunity for the organization to remind that every day, at least 1000 blood donations are needed to maintain the reserve to an optimal level. A goal that is achieved, thanks to the invaluable contribution of nearly 175,000 blood donors and thousands of volunteers who are committed to the cause of blood donation: thank you for helping us save lives!

Summer Campaign
During National Blood Donor Week, which will take place from June 11 to 17, Héma-Québec will be launching its summer campaign in which five popular Québec personalities will  be taking part: television and radio host Isabelle Racicot, singer-songwriter Patrice Michaud, actress Sophie Nélisse, three-time Olympic medalist and bronze medal winner in the 2018 World Championship Kim Boutin and 2018 Olympic gold medallist and double World Champion Mikaël Kingsbury. All summer long, they will endorse the cause and encourage the public to donate blood.

The campaign will be featured on billboards, in newspapers, on the radio, online and in social media. The residents of Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Sherbrooke and Gatineau, where PLASMAVIE Plasma Donor Lounges are located, will be treated to the sight of certain ambassadors wearing a yellow sweater designed to promote plasma donation.  

Rain or shine, the need for blood never goes away.
Héma-Québec reminds that Québec's collective blood reserve belongs to all and during the warmer months, the need for blood doesn't take holidays. In Québec, someone needs blood every 80 seconds. Regardless of where the blood is collected, it is processed and tested, and then sent wherever it is necessary to contribute to saving lives.

Generally, anyone who is in good health and over 18 years of age can make a blood donation. Before going to a blood drive, you can see if you are eligible by calling Donor Services at 1 800 343-7264 or consulting the Héma-Québec Web site at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca,  BLOOD > DONORS > Who can donate? section.

To find out the dates of upcoming blood drives in your region, consult the Héma-Québec Web site at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca or call 1-800-343-7264.

The residents of Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Sherbrooke and Gatineau interested in donating plasma can learn more by visiting www.plasmavie.ca or make an appointment by calling 1 800 343-7264.

About Héma-Québec

Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently meet the needs of the Québec population for quality blood and other biological products of human origin.

Héma-Québec encompasses 1,300 employees and nearly 240,000 blood, stem cell, mother's milk and human tissue donors, in addition to thousands of blood drive volunteers. Each year, Héma-Québec delivers some 750,000 human biological products to Québec hospitals to meet the needs of patients.

Give Blood. Give Life.

Original text in French. In the event of a discrepancy between the English and French versions, the latter will prevail.

SOURCE Héma-Québec