Partners for Life with Canadian Blood Services

Transcription

1 Partners for Life with Canadian Blood Services What is Partners for Life? Partners for Life program is a nationwide program that is designed for corporate and community organizations. When your company or organization joins, everyone works together to make a set number of blood donations within a calendar year. Imagine what your organization can achieve if everyone donated blood together. These donations differ from financial ones because they directly help patients being treated for cancer, during surgery, or after serious accidents. With Partners for Life, your organization can have a direct and positive impact on those in need. Commitment 1. Select a Partners for Life Program Champion He/she will be the main contact with Canadian Blood Services and act as a leader to promote the program and encourage members of your organization to participate. 2. Set a Donation Pledge Your organization will set a donation pledge your lifesaving goal for the year. The number of units (1 donation = 1 unit of blood) will be decided jointly between Canadian Blood Services and your organization. 3. Donate Partner corporations are encouraged to allow employees time off to donate during work hours (where and when feasible). The Life Bus, a free shuttle service, is available if you would like to donate as a group, and we will provide materials to help you educate potential donors and encourage your staff to donate blood. Joining Partners for Life Contact your local Canadian Blood Services representative today to join Partners for Life and start saving lives as a team. We can tell you more about the program, work with you to set your organization s annual donation goal, and plan your blood donor recruitment activities to help reach that goal. You can also join by completing the accompanying Partners for Life registration form or visit To have your organization become a member of our Partners for Life program, or for more information; please contact: Keri Cable, Territory Manager Phone: Fax: keri.cable@blood.ca

2 Benefits to Becoming a Partners for Life Organization 1. Saving Lives The greatest benefit of all will undoubtedly be the fact that your organization will save lives and help countless Canadians who need blood and blood products. When surveyed, 52 per cent of Canadians say they or a family member have needed blood. Not only is donating blood a great way to support your local community the need for blood will resonate with many of your staff/members. 2. Recognition Your organization will be issued a certificate of membership, and your organization s name will be featured on our Recognition Board in the donor clinic. We endeavor to provide public recognition in various publications, on our website, through advertising and inclusion in an annual recognition event. 3. Morale and Teambuilding Saving lives together is the ultimate team builder and will instill a sense of pride amongst employees/members within an organization committed to making a difference. Donating together is a chance for everyone to interact and work towards a common goal. 4. Leadership Development Staff/members are given leadership opportunities to champion the cause and expand their skills while making a difference. 5. Corporate & Community Reputation Partnering with Canadian Blood Services is a great way to build a stronger community and national profile for your organization and meet social responsibility objectives. 6. Build Your Business Research shows that Canadians are more likely to have a positive impression of corporations who visibly support Canadian Blood Services. According to a study by Ipsos Reid, 71 per cent of Canadians strongly agree that corporations who host blood donor clinics are doing a good thing, and 78 per cent of Canadians would be more likely to purchase products or services from corporations that visibly support blood donation in Canada.

3 Promotional Programs and Materials Canadian Blood Services will provide your organization with all the tools needed to help meet your commitment and lifesaving goal. Your local Canadian Blood Services representative can help prepare the following promotional opportunities and materials to help you raise awareness about the need for blood and new blood donors. Scheduled Appointments Canadian Blood Services will work with you and your group to book an appointment to donate together, and to schedule your next group donation time at the clinic remember you can donate every 56 days. This helps Canadian Blood Services to plan ahead, to ensure that Canada s blood supply is always being replenished and that blood and blood products are always available for the patients who need them. Here are some of the benefits of scheduled appointments: Saves time for the group: Less time off the job or away from other important commitments. Helps make the blood donation experience a good one: Prompt, cheerful and unrushed attention creates respect for our donor clinic teams, increases efficiency and helps us deliver quality donor customer service which equates to happy and satisfied donors. Reduces the number of no-shows : Champions can help us by following up on reminder calls to remind group members about their specific appointment to donate. Provides an adequate and safe blood supply for patients. And that s the bottom line! Blood Challenges If your group wishes to challenge another Partners for Life group, we will help you through every step of the process.

4 Life Bus Making the donation process easy: Life Bus is complimentary return transportation to a Canadian Blood Services donor clinic, for three or more donors, from any location within the city. Riding the Life Bus is a great way to bring your Partners for Life members together and to enhance your commitment. Steps to organizing a Life Bus 1. Recruit at least three of your colleagues/members to donate blood. 2. Choose a date, time, and clinic location for your group to donate. (If you are unsure of the closest donation clinic in your area, please contact us). 3. Reserve your appointments and the Life Bus by calling: Calgary Avenue SW Phone: (403) Or toll-free: carmen.caspar@blood.ca Lethbridge # Avenue S Edmonton Street Phone: (780) nalberta.lifebus@blood.ca Red Deer # Street Phone: carmen.caspar@blood.ca Phone: nalberta.lifebus@blood.ca Please note: It takes about 1½ - 2 hours (approximately 75 minutes to complete your donations and minutes travelling time), so please plan accordingly.

5 Speaking Up to Save Lives Canadian Blood Services offers a Speaking Up to Save Lives Speakers Bureau Series that can be delivered by trained volunteer speakers (often these are blood product recipients). They are available to conduct a motivational presentation to your peers about donating and the need for blood. The length of presentations will vary to meet your group s expectations. Contact your local representative to arrange a presentation for your group. What s Your Type? Session, Information Booths and Health Fairs For large companies or companies in a large building with a public area, we can set up an information booth or a blood typing session, which offers an opportunity for people to learn more about the traits attached to their type and various statistics and interesting information about blood and its uses. Blood typing sessions must meet some minimum requirements and must be booked well in advance. Also, don t forget to invite us to your next health fair or put us in touch with your Health and Wellness Officer. Contact your local representative to arrange a blood typing session or information booth. Promotional Materials Available Your local Canadian Blood Services representative can help prepare promotional materials to help you raise awareness about the need for blood and to help you recruit Partners for Life members. Promotional materials include: Customized posters, flyers, tent cards (great for a cafeteria), cheque stuffers New hire introductory letter (for your organization s new hire orientation kit) Newsletter and web articles Banner ad for your Intranet or external Web site Educational brochures Inspirational testimonials from blood recipients

6 Blood. A vital resource. We all know blood plays a critical role in our survival. But have you ever wondered how? Most of us never really think about it. Yet within every drop of blood, you ll find components that give us energy, help us fight infections and even make up part of our identity. How much blood does it take to save a life? Canadian Blood Services collects approximately 900,000 units of blood annually. This may seem like a lot of blood; however, the average patient requires 4.6 units. Different medical procedures, accidents or diseases require varying amounts of blood. For example (1 unit = 1 blood donation): Coronary artery bypass 1 to 5 units Cancer treatment up to 8 units/week Liver transplant up to 100 units Fractured hip/joint replacement 2 to 5 units Other organ transplants up to 10 units Cardiovascular surgery to 25 units Bone marrow transplant up to 2 units/day Bleeding ulcer 3 to 30 units Sickle cell up to 4 units/month Brain surgery 4 to 10 units Aplastic anemia up to 4 units/month Auto accident/gunshot wound up to 50 units Source: America s Blood Centers Hospitals use these Blood Components: Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues and are responsible for the renewal of carbon dioxide through the lungs. Platelets provide the basis for clotting, which helps control and stop bleeding. Plasma is a yellow liquid containing many of the body s proteins, which fight infection. It also contains elements such as calcium and magnesium, which are required to control bleeding and assist clotting. It distributes nutrients to tissues and transports waste products to the lungs, liver and kidneys, where they are removed. Help us help patients by becoming a Partner for Life today!