Canadian Blood Services is calling on the public to roll up their sleeves to help reduce a nationwide blood shortage that’s reached what it calls a critical level.
The organization currently has between 12,000 and 14,000 units of blood on hand; the country typically requires a minimum of 20,000 units at any given time.
“It is critical right now,” said Hailu Mulatu, a regional manager with Canadian Blood Services. “We’re trying everything we can to ensure that we can meet patients’ demands over the summer.”
While Saturday marks the last day of National Blood Donor Week, Mulatu says Canadian Blood Services is extending its appeal for donations.
The goal is to bag 50,000 units of blood by the end of June, a target that will take a major surge to reach.
Increasing the blood supply is, without exaggeration, a matter of life and death for thousands of patients around the country, Mulatu says.
Victims of a bad car crash can need up to 50 units, while leukemia patients can require up to 80 units every week, the organization estimates.
Just linking to the eligibility rules for Canadian Blood Services. The minimum age to donate is 17, provided you meet height and weight requirements.
They’ve done some updating in the past year (including updates on the restrictions on donation by men who have had sex with men, the screening process for trans individuals, flu shots, and travel, as well as waiting times between donations for people who have periods), so if you were previously unable to donate, you might be able to now!
Canadian Blood Services pleading for donors as blood shortage reaches ‘critical’ level
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