The Canadian Blood Service has joined forces with the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant for the first time to encourage people to donate blood after seeing a significant decline in the blood supply.

Blood supply has declined as much as 30 per cent in recent months among global blood services.

The Canadian Blood Service had to call on the public after a decline in the blood supply earlier this summer as well. At that time 6,700 new donors stepped up and donated. The blood supply and appointment bookings have since declined again.

Reason blood decline happens can vary, with reasons such as weather, seasonal illness, and vacations causing disruptions in appointment bookings.

Ryan Adams, Director of Development and Recruitment at Canadian Blood Services, says they need just over 18,000 appointments each week to keep up with the blood supply.

“The idea here is to use our collective Megaphone here to shed light on the fact that this is a global issue. We are facing a shortage of donor across our varies blood systems.”

Adams says the need for blood is constant, and warns if blood supplies don’t increase, it could begin to effect patient care in the long run.

People looking to donate can book their appointment at blood.ca, by calling 1-888-2-DONATE, or in person at any Canadian Blood Service location.