Blood clinic on target to meet quota

With a successful first day under its belt, Canadian Blood Services is aiming to meet its two-day donor quota today as it wraps up its fall blood donor clinic at Fort Frances High School.
CBS spokesperson Harvey Heather said this morning a total of 154 donors came to the clinic yesterday, giving 133 units of blood.
Those numbers were just below the target of 161 donors and 135 units.
The donor clinic continues today from noon until 3 p.m. and again from 5-8:30 p.m. in the Fort High gym.
Heather said CBS wants to see at least 216 donors giving 177 units of blood today. This adds up to a two-day quota of 367 donors and 312 units.
The spring blood clinic held back in late April drew 368 donors, with 323 units donated.
Heather clarified the number of donors does not always equal the number of units. On average, just under 15 percent of people who come out for the clinics are advised not to donate (either for their own safety or the safety of others).
He added that while it may be a little late to make an appointment by this evening, anyone wanting to give is highly encouraged to drop by.
“In fact, the second night is usually a lot slower and that’s a concern,” Heather said. “So by all means, people can walk in.”
CBS is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec, and also oversees the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
CBS looks after 91 hospitals in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
About 1,700 units of blood per week are needed to meet the demand, with CBS trying to keep enough on hand to supply each of these hospitals for four days.