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HomeNewsBlood donations dip in the summer when they're needed most

Blood donations dip in the summer when they’re needed most

HUNTSVILLE, ON – Hundreds of people are still needed to roll up their sleeves and give blood at drives coming up soon.

There are two events planned in Muskoka and one in Parry Sound in August. The first is this Saturday in at the Summit Centre in Huntsville from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to the organization’s territory manager, Elaine St. Pierre, 50 people are still needed over the next two days to fill the empty appointment spots.

St. Pierre said it is important to keep stocks up because hospitals in Canada go through 17,000 units every week.

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“We need to make sure that blood is always there when patients need it,” St. Pierre said. “It has a really short shelf-life. We can;t collect it in abundance and store it. It is needed every day so it needs to be collected everyday.”

The manager added donations take big hits during the summer because people tend to go on vacation and just get busy in general.

St. Pierre wanted to remind the community that there are so many difference reasons why someone would need blood. She said people with blood disorders, mothers giving birth and those with compromised immune systems make up just a fraction.

“A large portion of blood is needed for trauma victims,” St. Pierre said. “Just to put in perspective, a car crash victim can use up to 50 units of flood. That means it takes 50 people donating once to save that life.”

There is a lot more time for people in the Muskoka area to sign up for the second blood drive this month. It will be also be in Huntsville, but at the Faith Baptist Church on August 26 between 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. St. Pierre said there are still 60 spots available.

As for Parry Sound, the drive will be at St. Peter the Apostle Church on August 16th between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The event is still looking to fill 65 spots.

“It really just takes an hour of your day and it can help save a life,” St, Pierre said.

 

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