Extreme weather conditions across much of the country at the end of December and into the New Year have forced Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to cancel 24 blood donor clinics.
Cancelled clinics have resulted in a lost opportunity to collect over 1,200 donations across the nation.
So CBS is now appealing for donors to turn out in large numbers at upcoming clinics, including six in Wellington County in the next few weeks.
“It’s been a stormy start to 2014. While we’ve weathered the storm by leveraging our national reserves to ensure patient needs are met, we now need Canadians to help replenish national supplies by booking an appointment and giving blood in January,” says Mark Donnison, vice-president of donor relations.
A blood donor clinic is planned in Drayton at Community Christian School, 35 High Street, on Jan. 27 from 2:30 to 7:30pm.
In Elora there is a clinic at the Elora Community Centre on Feb. 5 from 3 to 7pm.
Another clinic is scheduled for Fergus on Feb. 18 from 2 to 8pm at the Sportsplex. This clinic is right after Family Day, a tough weekend for collecting units because many regular donors are gone away this weekend and don’t donate, a clinic official said.
“We also have a higher-than-average no-show rate in Fergus at clinics,” said Lisa Ruck, a local community development coordinator for Canadian Blood Services.
“In November we had 53 donors not show up for appointments and in December we had 69 donors not show. This is crucial to the success of our clinics as we rely on those appointments for donations.”
On Feb. 4, a clinic will be held at the Mount Forest and District Recreation Complex at 850 Princess Street. This a walk-in only clinic from 3 to 8pm.
A clinic will also be held at the Palmerston Community Centre, at 525 Cavan Street, on Feb. 13 from 1:30 to 7:30pm.
The Erin Legion Hall, at 12 Dundas Street East, will be the site of a clinic on Feb. 19 from 2:30 to 7:30pm.
From mid-January to Feb. 1, Canadian Blood Services forecasts 31,000 appointments need to be filled. The recent clinic cancellations, coupled with constant hospital demand, have also created an immediate need for more O-negative and A-negative blood donations.
“A blizzard may stop us in our tracks, but the need for blood keeps on going – especially when it comes to blood types that are in high demand, such as O-negative blood,” says Donnison.
“When seconds count, someone’s life is on the line and there’s no time to check a patient’s blood type, O-negative blood is used.”
Canadian Blood Services is urging communities from coast to coast to rally together now because it often takes many donors to help save someone’s life. Some examples of urgent situations where multiple blood donors are needed include:
– up to five donors to help someone through heart surgery;
– between two and eight donors to help save someone with internal bleeding; and
– as many as 50 donors to help someone seriously hurt in a car crash.
“How will you make a difference in 2014?” CBS officials ask. “Resolve to save lives. By donating blood, you are helping ensure a strong blood supply for Canadian patients this winter.”
To book an appointment, visit www.blood.ca or call 1-888-236-6283. Those with appointments are encouraged to keep them and, if possible, bring a friend to donate.
