The availability of blood and blood products is essential to the provision of emergency, surgical and medical care in British Columbia. In a blood system based on voluntary donation and in which BC imports 10-15% of its blood supply, the potential for blood shortage is an ongoing risk. A number of emergency scenarios, including natural or man-made disasters, pandemic outbreak, terrorism and/or extremes of weather, could contribute to extremely low blood inventory levels.

To provide a framework for a rapid and effective response to blood shortages in BC, a working group chaired by the PBCO has developed a BC Blood Contingency Plan. The plan is an advisory document for those involved with the management, supply and use of blood. The aim is to ensure that access to safe transfusion is maintained for as many patients as possible during a blood shortage, and to provide a means to enable the equitable allocation of blood in such situations, on the basis of need. A toolkit to help hospitals develop their own blood shortage plans has also been developed.