As Canadians prepare to celebrate this holiday season, many hospital patients will be fighting to celebrate life itself. Canadian Blood Services is asking eligible Canadians to give the gift that thousands of hospital patients will need this holiday season by donating blood.
Collecting blood during the holiday season is a challenge as many donors go away or are busy with family activities. Between December 13 and January 2, Canadian Blood Services will need to collect close to 50,000 blood donations to meet the needs of hospitals all across Canada. However, Canadian Blood Services needs 22,000 more donors to book appointments and is asking eligible Canadians to donate blood to meet the needs of hospital patients during these challenging weeks.
In Saskatchewan, Canadian Blood Services must collect 4,800 blood donations in December. To reach that goal the organization still needs to fill about 2,000 appointment spots across the province before the end of December.
"We simply need more Canadians to book appointments this holiday season to donate blood, particularly the weeks before and the week after Christmas," said Glenda Kolynchuk-Simpson, donor services manager, Canadian Blood Services, SK. "We need to be proactive now to ensure hospital patients receive life-saving blood and blood products during these challenging weeks."
With 52 percent of Canadians saying they or a family member have needed blood for surgery or medical treatment, a single donation will be greatly appreciated by hospital patients and their families this holiday season.
There are plenty of opportunities to donate blood this holiday season. In Weyburn, there will be a blood donor clinic on Tuesday, December 21 at Assiniboia Park Elementary School from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m. and 5:15 to 8:30 p.m.
Call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to book an appointment to donate today. In just one hour, a donor can help a cancer patient receive treatment, an accident victim to survive, or a new mother hold her baby after emergency surgery. To help meet the continuing need for blood, donors who have an appointment in the coming weeks are urged to honour it.
