Canadian Blood Services needs 32,000 units of blood across the country before Labour Day to make sure there isn’t a shortfall, and is making an urgent appeal for more donors.
The national inventory of blood has dropped significantly this summer, and 30% fewer people are donating blood than 10 years ago.
“A lot of people feel, someday I will do that, someday I will get in there and I need to try it,” said Judy Jones, Canadian Blood Services, “Let’s change someday into today and really get them to come in. If we didn’t have the As, the Os in our actual letters and we didn’t have them in our units, we wouldn’t have the units for the patients in the hospitals.”
For those who do donate, it’s something of a habit, with many donating dozens of times.
“I just want to help people,” said Rhonda Pick, who has donated 20 times. “I feel like there’s a need and it’s something small that I can do.”
“You can imagine tomorrow everyone can need it, even me or my family, so that’s why it’s good to do it,” said Nodari Grigolia, who has given blood 17 times.
“Mostly it was because of my Grandpa, he had blood transfusions before he passed on so it was something I kept on going with,” said Brent Milligan, who had donated since he was 17-years-old.
Three people around the world receive a life-saving blood transfusion every second, making every unit of blood count.
For a list of locations where you can donate, visit Canadian Blood Services.
