Canadian Blood Services says they have ‘immediate need’ for plasma donors
Posted August 5, 2022 2:53 pm.
Last Updated August 5, 2022 3:25 pm.
The Canadian Blood Services is calling out for donors to step up, as supplies of certain blood types hit dangerous lows.
On their website, Canadian Blood Services says they have only three days’ worth of O+ and O- blood types, and only five days’ worth of A+, A- and B- blood types.
They say they need 100,000 new donors to join up to ensure patient needs can be met.
“There is an immediate need for plasma donors … it’s critical that our call for donors breaks through the compassion fatigue many people are feeling as we recover from the pandemic,” said a Canadian Blood Services statement on Twitter.
(Photo credit: Canadian Blood Services)
Back in June, Canadian Blood Services said Canadian blood donations had reached a 10-year low.
“We have a small donor base of people that are basically maintaining the system for us across the country… but it’s not sustainable,” said Gayle Voyer, Canadian Blood Services, back in June.
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The pandemic not only put up barriers to people going in to donate but also hampered the Canadian Blood Services’ community outreach efforts to raise awareness of the need to give.
“All of those factors combined has kind of put us into a situation where some people just aren’t aware that [blood is] needed.”
If you want to donate, you can book an appointment at the blood.ca, or download the Give Blood app. Donor centres can be found on the CBS website.
With files from Denise Wong
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