June 11 to 17 is National Blood Donor Week, and Canadian Blood Services says there is a critical need for donations.

"We currently have less than three days inventory of O negative on hand, and we need to have between a five and eight day supply of blood and blood products to meet anticipated hospital demands," said Lisa Castro, the local Territory Manager for Canadian Blood Services.

Castro explained that across Canada, there is a need for 50,000 units of blood before the end of June, or roughly 16,000 units each week. Locally for Calgary and the surrounding region, that works out to 3000 appointments each week that need to be filled.

Castro explained their goal this week is to prompt new donors to step up, and hopefully become regular donors.

"We see the same donors stepping up everyday to donate blood, and we can't keep relying on those same individuals."

Castro said over the summer, donations tend to drop off as regular donors go away on vacation. That makes new donors even more vital.

There are opportunities in the near future for Airdronians to give blood.

"We have three opportunities in Airdrie coming up. We have a clinic on June 23. We're also back on July 4 and July 7, and two of those clinics still have appointments."

 

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