May 26, 2016 · 0 Comments
Despite a notable increase in blood donations in recent weeks, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is urging more eligible Canadians to roll up their sleeves for hospital patients.
In late April, CBS announced the need for 200,000 blood donations by July. Thousands of eligible donors have answered the call for support, but another 100,000 donations are required over the next seven weeks to support their needs over the warmer summer months. Before a clinic Monday at Compass Community Church, Orangeville was half-way to its target of 350 donations by July 1.
This spring, a combination of factors, including new donation rules to protect the blood supply from the Zika virus and missed appointments, led to fewer donations and added pressure on Canada’s blood supply.
“We are pleased by the response we’ve seen from many returning and new blood donors, but we still need others to get involved,” says Michael Betel, regional director, donor relations. “It’s very important for Canadians to do their best to keep their blood donation appointments, and even bring a friend or family member to donate, too.”
Donors can sign up to receive an SMS text message to remind them of their appointment, and walk-ins are also welcome at all clinics. In some cases, clinic hours have been extended to help more people donate.