TISDALE - Residents of Tisdale and surrounding areas are encouraged to donate blood and book open appointments on July 22.
Canadian Blood services donation event will be at the Tisdale Recplex on July 22 and appointments are available from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with 64 open appointments.
Currently, the inventory of blood levels for some specific blood types are very low. If you are: A-, B-, O+, O- have the lowest inventory. Some of these with only three days worth of blood available. Rapid growth in the demand for blood products could cause national supply to dwindle said the Canadian Blood services.
“Join a community of lifesaving donors who make all the difference for patients across the country. When you donate blood to Canada’s Lifeline today, you make all the difference to someone’s future.” One in two people in Canada are eligible to donate and only one in 76 do.
The demand for blood products was stable for nearly a decade, and at times even declined slightly. Now, hospital demand is quickly rising. While there is a dedicated group of people who have been donating blood and plasma regularly, there are simply not enough people donating to meet the growing demand. New donors are needed to help keep the national blood supply well stocked, said Canadian Blood Services.
“Today more patients need blood products than we have seen over the past decade,” says Dr. Kathryn Webert, medical director for Canadian Blood Services. “This is because there has been an increase in surgeries and treatments that require blood transfusions. The population is both growing and aging, and the number of patients with diseases that are treated with blood products is going up.”
Canadian Blood Services collect, test and manufacture blood and blood products, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma. They provide diagnostic laboratory testing services in some provinces. They also research and development efforts that have yielded new knowledge, processes and technologies, to ensure patients receive the best product at the right time to improve their health and well-being.
The 2023 Blood Services report can be found here. In 2023 there were 375,000 people who donated blood and 77,000 of those were first time donors. The need for blood is never ending and Canadian Blood Services is encouraging everyone to give if they are able to.
For more information or learn how to donate click here, or use the GiveBlood app, or call 1 888 2DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to find and book an appointment.
