Organizers of the Canadian Blood Services’ spring donor clinic here were pleased with the number of donors who stopped by Fort Frances High School yesterday to give the “gift of life.”
There were 148 donors and 127 units of blood collected, which was very close to their first-day target of 135 units.
“But we’re certainly hoping for a great day today,” stressed CBS spokesman Harvey Heather, noting the clinic continues today in the high school gym from noon-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m.
He indicated with the rainy weather, perhaps more people will be indoors and be likely to donate.
A two-day goal of 380 donors (300 units of blood) has been set for this year’s spring clinic.
Interested donors can make an appointment by calling 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Walk-in appointments are welcome, although there’s no guarantee you won’t have to wait a while.
Those who have made appointments, but are unable to keep them, are highly-encouraged to either have someone else go in their place or call CBS at the toll-free number above and cancel so another donor can have the spot.
At the pair of two-days clinics held here last April and October, 764 district residents donated a total of 648 units of blood.
Each unit can be used to assist as many as three people, so that means they potentially helped up to 1,944 patients.
CBS also would like to see more new donors at this clinic—not only to meet the increasing demand for blood, but to help replace any past donors who no longer may be able to donate due to health reasons or possibly having passed away.
It estimated about 90,000 new donors are needed across Canada this year in order to keep up with the demand.
CBS looks after 91 hospitals in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, including those here in Rainy River District. About 60,000 units of blood per year are needed to meet the demand of those facilities.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
