Image provided by Canadian Blood Services.
There is a big need for blood donors as Canadian Blood Services faces a couple of challenges this summer.
Summer is a time when regular blood donors are often unavailable and hospital demand has restored itself to pre-COVID levels as provinces start to open up.
Peter MacDonald, director of donor relations and collections in Atlantic Canada, said hospitals are starting to catch up on a backlog of surgeries.
“[We are] seeing an increase recently in our no-shows and cancellations of appointments as we start to open up across the province. It’s not a good equation for our inventory. Our inventory is in a good position but if this trend continues it’s going to deteriorate quickly,” MacDonald said.
Canadian Blood Services hopes to get 23,000 additional donors before the end of July to replenish the national inventory.
MacDonald said the registration process for donors is still happening online.
“I would encourage anyone to go to blood.ca to download the Give Blood app or if they want to go old school they can contact us at 1-888-2-DONATE to book an appointment,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald said clinics will remain by-appointment-only with all COVID protocols in place until at least early fall. Changes may be made after that.
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