Canadian Blood Services says more donors needed in Halifax ahead of holidays – Halifax | 24CA News

Canadian Blood Services says extra donors are wanted as Nova Scotians get able to embark on their vacation plans.

Kathy Gracie, the Associate Director of Canadian Blood Services for Atlantic Canada, says the Bayers Road location has lots of of open appointments for the interval between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2.

“The holidays are a very trying time for us to fill appointment gaps,” Gracie says. “We have a lot of open appointments in that window, 340 to be exact in this location on Bayers Road, which is a lot of appointments for a little bit over a week.”

Gracie hopes Haligonians can embody donating blood as a part of their vacation festivities this 12 months to assist these in want.

She cites a busy flu season and the absence of pandemic restrictions as explanation why the necessity is particularly excessive this 12 months.

“Over my past two years with Canadian Blood Services, this is probably one of the worst I’ve seen in terms of us being prepared into that holiday window,” Gracie says.

“This is really the first Christmas without any pandemic restrictions. And then the other side of that is we’re in cold and flu season and we are seeing a lot of sicknesses, we’re seeing a lot of late cancellations and same day cancellations, which are really affecting our collections as well as we’re heading into the holidays.”

All donors are wanted because of the many appointments that stay open. Those with an O-negative blood kind, also referred to as a ‘universal donor,’ are at all times in excessive demand, in keeping with Canadian Bood Services.

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Thousands of blood donation appointments have to be crammed in subsequent two weeks in Canada, lots of within the Okanagan

Gracie says that if you give blood, you give the “gift of life.”

“When you leave our clinic, you leave holding your head high because you just saved a life,” she says. “One donation can save up to three lives. And you know, it’s something to be very proud of, especially in the time of giving.”

Michael Boucher has now donated blood 133 occasions. He began when he was a college scholar, and says he was impressed by his father who was additionally fast to roll up his sleeves to present.

“Well, for me, it’s just a way to give back, it was a family tradition,” he says. “My father did it before me and my daughter does it now.”

He says it additionally hits near house as a result of his mother is at the moment receiving care within the hospital.

“My mom’s actually in the hospital right now, she has stage four cancer,” Boucher says. “So for us, it’s just a way to help out.”

Overall, CBS estimates it has misplaced greater than 31,000 common donors nationwide for the reason that starting of the pandemic.

In June, it set the aim of reaching 100,000 new donors by the top of the 12 months, however Gracie says it has been laborious to see the replenishment of donors since COVID.

Gracie provides it’s a straightforward course of and also you’re often out and in of the clinic on Bayers Road in about an hour.

“Just remember that the need for blood doesn’t get to take a holiday,” Gracie says. “The patients are really depending on it. This is their gift so that they can have another Christmas with us. So, please come out and donate.”

A brand new Ipsos survey reveals whereas six out of 10 eligible donors in Canada consider donating blood or plasma over the vacations is vital, just one in 10 plan to.

Canadian Blood Services directs donors to ebook an appointment at blood.ca, by way of the GiveBlood app, or by calling 1-800-236-6283.

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