During the Pandemic

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Figure 1. Memorial University of Newfoundland pharmacy students pose outside donation center adter successful blood drive.

The need for blood donations never ceases, not even in the midst of a pandemic. According to the Canadian Blood Services, during the early part of the pandemic, there was a decrease in the number of blood donations due in part to uncertainty and fear surrounding the virus and reduced capacity at donation sites to align with social distancing requirements. Although the supply decreased, the demand did not. Efforts were made to encourage donation, including a call to action by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and later in 2020, levels of blood donation had returned to almost prepandemic levels.

As future health care professionals, pharmacy students across Canada felt the urge to educate the public about the need for blood donations and to encourage people to donate. IPSF Local Representatives across the country worked hard to organize blood drives in partnership with their local blood donor clinics to allow people to donate blood while following the sanitary guidelines required of the pandemic.

This article highlights a few examples of successful blood drives organized by IPSF Local Chapters across Canada.

In October 2021, IPSF Representatives at the University of Montreal, in partnership with HemaQuebec held a blood drive. They promoted the event on their social media and set up a place on campus so that pharmacy students could donate blood during their lunch hour. Overall, they received 46 donations! The established partnership with Hema-Quebec allowed the event to run smoothly and also allowed for regular blood drives at the university.

Later in November 2021, IPSF Representatives at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) held a blood drive at their local Canadian Blood Services donor center. The event was promoted through physical posters and via social media. Incentives such as granola bars, snacks and vouchers to a local restaurant were offered to promote increased donations. Information about eligibility and the importance of blood donations was provided by the Canadian Blood Services.

Out of the 15 appointments reserved, 11 were filled up with successful donors! MUN Pharmacy has had an ongoing relationship where they hold two blood drives each year in the winter and spring. They did not let the pandemic stop them and have continued to hold regular blood drives with one planned for March 2022.

Also in November, IPSF Representatives at the University of Waterloo organized a blood drive where they carpooled to the local blood donation center in Bridgeport. Seen for the first time in 20 years, all 6 donation chairs were occupied by first time donors! After the blood drive, they ran a social media campaign to raise awareness of the blood donation process, celebrate their first-time donors, and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.

Although the uncertainty of the pandemic made it challenging to organize in-person events, including blood drives, IPSF Representatives across Canada worked hard to make donating blood accessible and safe. Along with recruitment of donors (many firsttime ones!), students ran social media campaigns to highlight the importance of blood donations. These initiatives were a success!

Figure 2. Memorial University of Newfoudnland pharamcy student prepaares to donate blood. Figure 3. Promotional poster from UNiversity of Montreal's blood drive.

Figure 4. All smiles udnerneath masks while student poses with Hema-Quebec representative after doanting blood