Blood supplies at critical levels
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Canadian Blood Services is activating it’s blood signal.
The organization is blaming a higher than normal number of no-shows over the past few months for a country-wide shortage of donors. If the trend continues, CBS warns it won’t be able to keep up with the expected hospital demand. Across Canada, local clinics are experiencing all-time low supplies.
One hour until close at the blood donor clinic at heartland town centre in Mississauga and there are more staff than donors.
Lilet Raffinan is a Territory Manager for CBS: “It’s an all time low across Canada.”
Canadian Blood Services Territory Manager Lilet Raffinan says this year there have been 133-thousand cancellations across the country, with 119-thousand people missing their appointments entirely — and it’s not clear why.
Lilet Raffinan: “If it continues to have that same trend, we will actually be concerned that it will strain the inventory level nationally.”
This clinic had a daily target of 56 appointments — but only ended up with 18 donors.
Krista Wilson, donating blood: “There should be more people here. Especially since this is open all the time.”
Krista Wilson has been donating as often as she can for the last 20 years and encourages anyone else who is able to do the same.
Saud Malik, donating blood: “I consider it kind of a moral obligation and it’s no cost to me so I might as well.”
Next to Wilson, Saud Malik has a slightly different reason for showing up to his appointment: “I have a friend who is O blood type. So I thought I could convince her if I donated myself first you know.”
While O negative is universal, Raffinan says they’re always looking for donors of all blood types as there is always a need: “If there is a car accident, they might use about 50 units of blood or leukemia patients use about 8 units of blood per week.”
Which is why Raffinan says it’s urgent these beds don’t remain empty for long.
Canadian Blood Services clinics across the country are now urging everyone who is eligible to not only come in and donate but to also bring a friend.
From the time you walk in, it only takes about an hour.
