(Canadian Blood Services Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti

February: 600 spots available in Red Deer

New and returning blood donors needed in Red Deer

Feb 3, 2022 | 4:17 PM

Canadian Blood Services is calling for new and returning donors to replenish the blood, platelet and plasma supply and support patients through the latest COVID-19 wave. For Red Deer, there are over 600 spots available to donate throughout the month of February.

Officials say the platelet inventory, blood cells that help blood to clot, and days on hand of several blood types, are at low levels. Inventory for each blood type should range between eight to ten days, depending on the demand. To date, all blood types, except AB+ and B+, are below required inventory.

“Like other organizations across Canada, the latest COVID-19 wave is challenging Canadian Blood Services like never before,” said Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services.

“As Omicron continues to spread across the country, it is also impacting our operations. Our employees and donors are among those falling ill or being required to isolate. For these reasons, and also because of severe weather in parts of the country, we’ve seen a concerning drop in donations recently. By booking appointments over the next several weeks, donors can help us reverse this worrying trend before the situation becomes urgent.”

Jennifer Gretzan, Associate Director for Donor Relations and Collections for Canadian Blood Services, says this trend has also been seen in Red Deer.

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“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen a strong response in blood donors, including in Red Deer. However, the number of donors across Canada and in all of our sites has shrunk since the start of the pandemic and we’ve been relying on the same donors to donate to hospital patients. So we really need to grow the donor base with new or returning blood donors to help ensure we can meet the needs of hospital patients,” she said.

According to Dr. Sher, the number of donors is highly disproportionate to the amount of people who are eligible to donate.

“Today, new donors are more important than ever. One in two people in Canada are eligible to donate blood, plasma, and platelets, but only one in 81 does,” he said.

Gretzan explained that the various uses for blood is more vast than some may think and combined with the fact that the blood supply is shared across the country, adds further strain.

“The need for blood is constant. There’s a variety of different reasons or medical treatments that people need blood. Not only from motor vehicle accidents but patients undergoing heart surgery or transplants, cancer patients can use up to five units of blood per week,” said Gretzan.

Those who wish to donate can visit blood.ca or download the GiveBlood app to book or change a blood donation appointment, find a donor centre or check their eligibility to donate blood or plasma.

Red Deer’s donor centre is located on 5020 68 St #5 open from Wednesday to Saturday, with the most available spots on Friday and Saturday.

People ineligible to donate whole blood may be eligible to donate plasma. Since the red blood cells are returned to the donor’s body and only the plasma is taken, donors can give plasma much more frequently. Men can donate every week and women are able to give every two weeks.

“Whether you choose to donate blood or plasma this week, next week or next month, all donors are an important part of Canada’s Lifeline. We also need donors to continue to be patient, and adapt with us, through this period of change and uncertainty. Lives depend on it,” said Dr. Sher.

Canadian Blood Services is considered an essential service and exempt from lockdown orders. Same day and open appointments spots are available every day at many donor centres and community events across the country.