Canadian Blood Services invites you 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, approximately 1,600 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,” says David Patterson, director of donor relations in the B.C. and Yukon region.
“So far we’re on track to welcome 85,000 new donors this year, including 14,000 in the B.C. and Yukon 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.”
Metro Vancouver residents can donate blood at a mobile clinic event or one of the following permanent clinic locations:
· Oak Street Blood Donor Clinic, 4750 Oak Street, which is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
· Downtown Blood Donor Clinic, #200-888 Dunsmuir Street, which is closed on Thanksgiving (October 10) but otherwise open Monday to Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· Surrey Blood Donor Clinic, 15285 101 Avenue, which is open Wednesday to Friday from 1 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
To discover all the ways you can 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.
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services manages the national supply of blood, blood products and stem cells, and related services for all the provinces and territories (excluding Quebec). We operate an integrated, pan-Canadian service delivery model that includes leading an interprovincial system for organ donation and transplantation.
Our national scope, infrastructure and governance make us unique in the Canadian healthcare landscape. Canadian Blood Services is regulated as a biologics manufacturer by Health Canada and primarily funded by the provincial and territorial ministries of health. Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization.
