Canadian Blood Services invites Central Albertans to give blood as the long weekend approaches – and give many families an extra reason to be thankful. At a time when families will gather together there will also be a strong need for donors to help replenish the national blood supply.
All blood groups support hospital patients, but this Thanksgiving there is a particular need for donors with O and A blood types. Donations often decrease around long weekends as regular donors are away or busy with family activities. Why not make giving blood a family event?
“Every week, 240 donations are needed in your community. You never know when you or a friend will need blood – it’s so important to understand that blood will always be there for us – but only if we have donors who give regularly,” said Susan Matsumoto, director of donor relations in the Prairies and NWT region.
“So far we’re on track to welcome 85,000 new donors this year, including 29,253 in the Prairies and NWT region. But we’re looking for a total of 100,000 across the country. We know when Canadians come together we can achieve great things. Summer has ended, we are getting back to our regular routines, and we ask you to make time to give life by donating blood.”
Upcoming clinics in the Red Deer region include Oct. 8th from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Oct. 11th from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
To discover all the ways to give life and to book an appointment, Canadians can download the GiveBlood app or visit blood.ca. Donors can sign up to receive an SMS text message to remind them of their upcoming appointment; walk-in appointments are also available at all clinics.
The Red Deer blood donor clinic located at #5-5020 68 St.
– Fawcett
