Urged to give in vein

Photo: Canadian Blood Services

Despite a notable increase in blood donations over the past few weeks, Canadian Blood Services continues to urge eligible Canadians to roll up their sleeves.

In late April, Canadian Blood Services announced the need for 200,000 blood donations by July.

Thousands of eligible donors have answered the call for support, but the campaign is only at the halfway mark, with another 100,000 donations required over the next seven weeks to support the need over the summer months.

This spring, a combination of factors, including new donation rules to protect the blood supply from the Zika virus and missed appointments, led to fewer donations and added pressure on Canada’s blood supply.

“We are pleased by the response we’ve seen from many returning and new blood donors, but we still need others to get involved,” said David Patterson, director of donor relations in the B.C. and Yukon region. “It’s very important for Canadians to do their best to keep their blood donation appointments, and even bring a friend or family member to donate, too.”

Donors can sign up to receive an SMS text message to remind them of their appointment, and walk-ins are also welcome at all clinics. In some cases, clinic hours have been extended to help more people donate.

Kelowna area residents can donate blood at the Kelowna Blood Donor Clinic, 103-1865 Dilworth Dr., which is open holiday Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and alternating Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (May 28)

To make a difference and save a life:

• Book and keep your next appointment.
• Invite a friend, family member or coworker to donate with you. Almost all first-time donors bring a friend for support.

People can also walk into a clinic and donate on the spot. For a list of current clinics, go to blood.ca, or download the mobile app.