Duane Hicks
It’s not too late for district residents to make an appointment to donate at the Canadian Blood Services’ fall donor clinic next Wednesday and Thursday at the Fort Frances High School gym.
Interested donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or visiting www.blood.ca
The clinic will run Wednesday (Sept. 9) from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and again on Thursday (Sept. 10) from noon-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m.
“We require a total of 340 or more donors for this clinic to meet anticipated hospital demands,” said Harvey Heather, community development co-ordinator for Canadian Blood Services.
“As of [yesterday], we still have over 60 appointments to fill for our upcoming clinic next week,” he noted.
“Since a single donation can help up to three people, we could help an additional 180 people if we can fill these appointments.”
Walk-ins will be welcome—although there’s no guarantee you won’t have to wait a while.
As well, those who have made appointments, but can’t keep them, can call and cancel—opening up that time slot for someone else.
Heather noted Canadian Blood Services has been experiencing a lower-than-normal turnout at many of its clinics this summer, so he’s highly encouraging area residents to donate and help save lives.
Altogether last year, up to 2,091 patients were helped by Fort Frances and area donors.
A total of 395 donors came out to the high school last September, donating a total of 335 units of blood over the two days.
This was 39 units more than the goal.
(The number of donors usually does not 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).
As for those who have never given blood before, Heather said 90,000 new donors are needed this year to ensure blood is available for patients in more than 650 Canadian health care facilities, including hospitals in this area.
He noted donating blood only takes about an hour. While that is a short time for a donor, to a patient, it means a lifetime.
