Shout Out!

Assalam-u-Alaikum Folks!

Below is a copy of an email I received yesterday urging for people to donate blood as there seems to be a drastic shortage of blood products this month. So please, try to donate if you can! I would be happy to book an appointment for you or find the closest donation clinic in your area. The weather is splendid, why not do something good while your out there!

Jazakallah Khairun

---------------------------

Dear Syed:

Send this message to 10 friends, and you could help save lives!

There is an immediate need for donors of all blood types across the country. The need is even more urgent for type O-negative blood. Within the next week, we need an additional 2,000 Canadians to help meet the blood needs of patients. Every blood donation can help save up to three lives - that's the beauty of giving blood! We need your help to spread the word! Please send this message to at least 10 of your friends.

We encourage you to book an appointment to donate blood by calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283), and if you already have THANK YOU!

Some fast facts:

We serve over 700 hospitals across the country.
Every 60 seconds, someone in Canada requires blood or a blood product!
While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are preferable as they help us better plan our clinics. Please call 1 888 2 DONATE
(1-888-236-6283) today!

Thank you for helping to save lives!

Regards,
Your friends at Canadian Blood Services!

PS - Forwarding this message to 10 friends could make a life-saving difference to 30 people waiting for blood or blood products!

it's in you to give
1 888 2 DONATE
www.blood.ca

World Blood Donor Day

Assalam-u-Alaikum!

I pray that everyone is doing well. I was just reading the news and apparently Canada has been chosen to represent World Blood Donor Day on June 14, 2007 by the World Health Organization, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Society of Blood Transfusion and International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations. Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec will work in conjunction with Health Canada to thank blood donors around the world for their selfless gift, and to raise awareness for the universal need for safe blood and blood products. The following information has been extracted from Canadian NewsWire:

World Blood Donor Day was officially designated as an annual event by the World Health Assembly in 2005. It has been hosted previously in the United Kingdom, and Thailand. About 60 per cent of the global blood supply is donated in developed countries where less than 20 per cent of the world's population live-this leaves many countries with acute blood shortages. Less than a quarter of countries have achieved 100 per cent voluntary blood donation. Many countries still depend to varying degrees on blood donation by the friends or family of a patient needing transfusion and, in some countries, some donors are still paid to give blood.

"Increasing the number of voluntary blood donors to give blood regularly is important all around the world," says Dr. Neelam Dhingra, Coordinator, Blood Transfusion Safety, World Health Organization. "While June 14th is a special day, World Blood Donor Day is part of a larger international campaign to ensure safe blood will always be available to every patient who needs transfusion as part of their treatment."

In Canada, World Blood Donor Day falls within National Blood Donor Week which is celebrated by events in towns and cities across the country.
-------------------

Congratulations to all those people who helped save lives through donating blood, may Allah grant you success in this life and in the hereafter. And may He help the rest of us in committing such noble deeds.

Peace.

Summer's here... Where are you?

Assalam-u-Alaikum Folks!

My apologies for not posting for about a month, I could get into the excuses but that would be pointless :-) . Anywhoo, I received a letter from CBS (Canadian Blood Services) a few weeks ago urging to donate this summer. While the need for blood exists throughout the year, why does CBS place a special emphasis over this particular season?

Well quite simply put, it is because fewer people donate over the summer period, due to the fact that many are vacationing or out enjoying the sun and making their own summer memories. Therefore it is imperative that we try to donate blood this summer as soon as we can, as it can help save countless lives.

Now wouldn't that be a great summer memory?