Canadian Blood Services is in critical need of blood donations.

Summer is generally a time when donations drop off and the organization was hoping to fill more than 150,000 appointments by July 1, but they still need over 60 thousand.

Lisa Castro, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services, says they have less than three days supply of O Negative blood on hand and they need eight.

"Currently our inventory is sitting between 12,000 to 14,000 units," said Castro. "Canada needs to be between 20,000 and 25,000 units and supplies need to increase before the summer months."

Right now less than four percent of the population steps up to donate blood and low blood inventory could cause issues for Canadian patients.

"We need to get the message out to Canadians that we can't keep relying on the same donors to support the blood system all year round."

A clinic in High River this weekend at the Heritage inn is fully booked, but you can call in case someone has cancelled.

"Sometimes people cancel, they head out of town unexpectedly."

The next clinic is August 14 at the Heritage Inn in the evening from 4 to 8 p.m.

Canadian Blood Services is also opening new offices at  Eau Claire Market, which will be the largest clinic in Canada with 20 chairs for people to donate all at once.

To make an appointment go online or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

 

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