The pressure is on January blood drives to make up a December shortage. The Boxing Day blood donation clinic in Huntsville had 72 blood donors come out, but Canadian Blood Services had targeted for 120 donors.
Territory Manager Elaine St. Pierre says weather played a factor, but it is still a shortfall for CBS. She says it will take a few clinics to make up that number.
St. Pierre says that 48 unit shortfall would have been enough for almost 10 patients to have heart surgery. Without those units coming into the system, St. Pierre says there is a potential impact on patient care.
There are clinics in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge this month. The target for the Gravenhurst clinic is 58 donors, and in Bracebridge the goal is 120 donors. St. Pierre says it’s important for donors to come out to those clinics, as blood donations are used every single day.
St. Pierre says it’s one of the most impactful things you can do, in a short period of time. She says the need for blood heightens around the holidays, as more cars are on the road with more distractions and potential bad weather.
You can book an appointment for either of the two upcoming clinics on the CBS website or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.