'We're asking people to help': Canadian Blood Services issues urgent call for donors after drop in inventory
There is a critical need for blood donors in Canada right now.
Earlier this week, Canadian Blood Services issued an urgent call for donors following a lull in attendance and rising cancellations.
According to the organization, the country's national blood inventory has fallen by 25 per cent since the beginning of April.
Now, the organization is urging new and returning donors of all blood types to donate over the coming weeks.
Kathie Gracie, the Canadian Blood Services' associate director of donor relations for the Atlantic region, says the decline in donations is concerning.
"We always see a dip coming into the summer anyway, but this year, we've already dipped before we hit the summer, so it's really concerning for us," she said.
Gracie says, for the Atlantic region, there has been a 10-per-cent increase in cancellations and no-shows.
"A lot of it's from COVID. So, it's related illnesses, isolation and lifting of restrictions, so that really puts a strain on collections and, as you can see, a 25-per-cent decrease in the national blood inventory," she said.
As of right now, Gracie says patients aren't being affected by the decline in blood donations, but that could change if donations don't pick up.
"With a 25-per-cent decrease in our blood inventory, it's always concerning that if that decline continues and we don't start to see the rise, that it will ultimately affect the patients' needs and that's not where we want to go," Gracie said.
"So, it's very important that we start to climb and start to see that inventory climb, and that we get into a good spot leading into the summer months."
Currently in the Atlantic region, there are 410 open appointments for blood donations until the end of May -- 107 of which are in Halifax.
"So, we're asking people to help us fill those appointments, and more importantly, we're asking people to be mindful of when your next blood donor appointment is," she said.
According to a statement from the Canadian Blood Services this week, one in two Canadians are eligible to donate blood, but only one in 81 actually do.
Canadian Blood Services says appointments to donate are required, but same-day appointments are available each day at many donor centres and community events.
Infection-control measures are still in place, including wellness screening, mandatory masking and physical distancing, and all staffmembers are fully vaccinated.
National Blood Donor Week is June 12-18.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.