Canadian Blood Services
News Release
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Canadian Blood Services needs to fill approximately 15,000 donation appointments nationally—including more than 75 appointments in North Bay.
The ice storm that hit many areas of Ontario caused a decline in blood donations.
To ensure hospital demand can be met, people who are able to donate are strongly encouraged to do so.
“Blood is perishable, especially platelets--which are part of blood. Platelets have a shelf life of just five days.
That means giving is critical at this time of year,” says Community Development Coordinator Joanne Drake.
“We need our community to rally together for patients in need of blood.”
To help a hospital patient:
1. Call 1 888 2 Donate (1-888-236-6283) or go online at www.blood.ca to book an appointment at:
North Bay’s Clarion Resort Pinewood Park
January 8th from 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
January 9th from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
2. Share your story about how you have resolved to donate blood in 2014. Go to Canadian Blood Services’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ManitobaBlood/www.facebook.com/SaskatchewanBlood and on Twitter #giveamiracle
3. Encourage your workplace to “Adopt a Recipient” and, as a group, give the number of donations that one patient may need. For example, it can take eight donations a week to treat one person with Leukemia, rally eight of your friends and colleagues to make a group donation.
While there is a continuous need for all blood types; there is a current need for donors with O-negative blood. When someone’s life is on the line and there’s no time to check blood type, hospital patients can receive O-negative blood.
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec.
Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 42 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually.
The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system.
To book an appointment or for more information, visit us at www.blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE.
www.facebook.com/CanadianBloodServices
Follow us on Twitter at @itsinyoutogive
Visit our channel 18882DONATE
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