Canadian Blood Services says blood donors are urgently need to help refill the national blood supply as donations hit a five-year low.
The call comes during a period when there are oftern more fatalities on Canadian roads than any other time of year.
Bruce Krauter, deputy chief of Essex-Windsor EMS, says, "We're busy all year round, but the numbers go up a couple of percentage points in the summertime when we're more active when people are on vacation."
It can take up to 50 donors to help save the life of someone involved in a car crash and all blood donors are needed, but particulary those with type O and A blood.
Canadian Blood Services needs to fill 30,000 appointments every week to meet the demand of blood and blood products, and about 20 per cent of donors have missed their appointments in recent months.
Platelets, the part of blood that helps with clotting, are of particular concern because they have a shelf-life of just five days before they expire.
To book an appointment visit blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE.
With files from CTVNews.ca
