Canadian Blood Services is appealing to the public for donations as their blood inventory hits a “critical” low.
On Tuesday, the organization stated that Canada’s blood inventory is critically low, especially for type O and A blood.
“Without the help of Canadians we may have difficulty meeting the expected hospital demand across the country. For patients, this may mean deferring elective or routine treatments,” stated Mark Donnison, Canadian Blood Services vice-president of donor relations.
The organization says low attendance at clinics in recent months, accompanied by a high demand for blood has drained blood stocks. According to officials this has resulted in the lowest national blood inventory since 2008.
“While we are extremely concerned that the reduced availability of blood may result in delays in treatment for certain patients, we are confident in the work Canadian Blood Services is doing, in collaborating with healthcare authorities to ensure patient safety,” says Lorna Warwick, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada senior national director. “We are calling on Canadians to donate blood today to ensure our system can help patients tomorrow.”
To book an appointment, download the GiveBlood app, visit blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE.
