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Canadian Blood Services - Interior Drive for Life  

Blood drive in the black

After six weeks of blood collections Kelowna and Prince George are in a near tie as they head down the final stretch of the 17th annual Interior Drive for Life (IDFL) challenge. The friendly competition began on Sept. 5 and runs until Oct. 30.

Kelowna have achieved just over 100 per cent of their blood donation target to date, but Prince George have gained considerable ground with about 99 per cent of their target.

This year’s challenge received an unexpected boost of support in both markets following Canadian Blood Services’ official appeal on September 30 to urge Canadians to donate blood immediately to increase the critically low blood inventory. 

“While we’ve seen a great response from Kelowna residents, the need for blood donations continues,” said Gayle Voyer, Territory Manager in Kelowna with Canadian Blood Services.

“IDFL this year has become more than a local blood drive contest against Prince George. It’s now also a call to action for as many Canadians as possible to donate and to encourage their friends and family to donate to help increase the national blood supply. Not just now, but on a regular basis going forward.” 

The city that collects the most blood donations by Oct. 30 will be declared the winner. Local residents who want to book a donation appointment and support the competition and Canada’s blood system can do so at blood.ca or by calling 1-888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

Check out the blood services Facebook page.



Blood supply critically low

The blood bank inventory in Canada remains critically low, prompting Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to once again appeal to all eligible donors.

In particular, those with type O and A blood are in desperate need due to extremely low attendance at donor clinics across the country, leading to the lowest blood inventory since 2008.

“While we are extremely concerned that the reduced availability of blood may result in delays in treatment for certain patients, we are confident in the work Canadian Blood Services is doing, in collaborating with healthcare authorities to ensure patient safety,” says Lorna Warwick, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada senior national director.

“We are calling on Canadians to donate blood today to ensure our system can help patients tomorrow.”

The constant need for blood, in addition to extremely low attendance by donors, has caused the national inventory to be used up faster than it can be replenished.

“Without the help of Canadians we may have difficulty meeting the expected hospital demand across the country. For patients, this may mean deferring elective or routine treatment,” says Mark Donnison, Canadian Blood Services vice-president of donor relations.

“We are committed to doing everything that we can to bring new blood donors into the system and encourage current donors to regularly donate to ensure we don’t find ourselves in the same situation in the future.”

To meet hospital demand, blood services collects 17,000 units of blood per week, and now say they immediately need an additional 7,500 blood donations to replenish supply.

They say soon there will be less than three days worth of inventory of the major blood groups on hand.

Anyone wanting to make an appointment can visit  blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283).



Blood drive going strong

After two weeks of donations, Kelowna leads Prince George in the 17th annual Interior Drive for Life (IDFL) challenge.

The friendly competition for blood donations runs until end the of October, and both cities are on track to smash their target numbers.

So far Kelowna has achieved 94 per cent of its blood donation target, and Prince George is close behind, having realized 86 per cent of its target.

This is good news to Canadian Blood Services, which was recently forced to activate its ‘Blood Signal’ –  a national call for additional donors as they encourage more people to donate blood while there is a greater need.

“Higher than expected cancellations and no-shows have put pressure on the national blood supply,” said Gayle Voyer, Territory Manager in Kelowna with Canadian Blood Services.

“IDFL is a chance for local residents to help build on our lead in blood collections during this year’s contest, while giving a timely boost to our national inventory.”

The city that collects the most blood donations by Oct. 30 will be declared the winner.

Local residents who want to book a donation appointment and support the competition can do so at blood.ca or by calling 1-888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283

Kelowna area residents are asked to give blood at the Kelowna Blood Donor Clinic at 103-1865 Dilworth Drive, which is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 4 and 18



Give blood and bring a friend

Canadian Blood Services is asking all eligible Canadians to donate blood this fall and to bring a friend to their next appointment.

Higher than expected cancellations and no-shows over the past months have put extra pressure on the national blood supply.

This year, Canadian Blood Services has reported 133,000 appointment cancellations and 119,000 people missing their appointment entirely.

"When a donor does not attend a scheduled appointment many of them believe that someone else in the community will step forward and take their place," says Mark Donnison, Canadian Blood Services vice-president of donor relations.

"However, we are actually being faced with a number of empty donor chairs as we attempt to fill up last-minute cancellations." 

Canadian Blood Services will need to fill an additional 78,000 appointments by the end of October to meet the anticipated demand.

"If this current trend continues we would be concerned that regular hospital demand would put a strain on our national inventory. To help fill empty donor chairs, we are encouraging Canadians to invite a friend and welcome new donors into the network," says Donnison.

Here's how you can make a difference and help save a life:

  • Book, keep and save your next appointment.
  • Invite a friend, family member or coworker. Almost all first time donors bring a friend, and it is a great way to support each other and make it a social event.

Canadian Blood Services now has free wireless internet at select clinics for those who want to Skype in some moral support or book their next appointment using the GiveBlood app.   

To book an appointment with someone in your community today, download the GiveBlood app, visit blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236 6283) today.



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