Canadian Blood Services have put out an urgent call for immediate donors
The Canadian blood inventory is dwindling as we get into spring, and an urgent call has been made for more donors to step up.
According to a release from the Canadian Blood Services, they are in need of at least 35,000 people to donate blood so that Canadian patients will continue to have a life-saving supply.
One such patient is 10-year-old Eli Tepas Barba, a Vancouver resident who is in remission from hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia and receives regular blood treatments at BC Children’s Hospital.
Eli’s dad said that blood donors in Canada are a necessary factor in Eli’s health.
“Blood donors are saving Eli’s life,” Alex Tepas said in the release.
“He has received countless units of blood and we’re so grateful to the people who have helped keep Eli alive.”
The release also stated that the inventory has been steadily declining over the winter months, though that organizers are holding out hope that spring will bring an influx of donations.
“There are thousands of open appointments across Canada over the next two weeks,” said Rick Prinzen, the chief supply chain officer of Canadian Blood Services, in the February 20 release.
“As we emerge from a particularly challenging winter, we’re asking Canadians to donate blood so that all patients have access to blood when they need it.”
To make an appointment to donate, willing Canadians can visit blood.ca, download the GiveBlood app, call 1-88-2-DONATE, or simply find a nearby donation site, as some locations do walk-in appointments.