Expert urges people to donate blood amid shortage

Blood supplies are dwindling in Saskatchewan and Canadian Blood Services has seen a drop in donations this summer.

With many people travelling in and out of the province during the summer months, Lisa Beechinor, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services in Saskatoon, said blood donation centres are struggling to fill donor appointment spots.

“Summer is normally very challenging for us to collect. Many people are going on camping trips or (are) away at the beach or going on holidays,” said Beechinor. “However, there are patients that are still waiting for their life-saving blood products that are needed.”

Beechinor noted that blood services currently has enough of an inventory to ensure patients are being taken care of, but blood only lasts 42 days in storage and needs to regularly be replenished.

The most important blood to have readily available is type O-negative, Beechinor said, noting Saskatoon will run out of O-negative blood in about three days if no new donations come in. She said a minimum supply of five to seven days is needed at all times.

“The need for blood is constant. Every 60 seconds, someone in Canada either needs blood or knows of a family member who needs blood,” said Beechinor. “Think about it like a fridge that’s empty; we always need to make sure the fridge is full.”

If more people in Saskatchewan made donating blood a part of their annual routines, Beechinor said periods with low amounts of blood on hand wouldn’t be as much of a concern, and would result in less of a rush to find donors at certain times of year.

In Saskatoon, she said 175 donor spots need to be filled by Tuesday, and in Regina, 94 spots need to be filled. By the end of September, Saskatoon needs 1,500 spots filled and Regina needs 1,100 spots filled.

Information on how to donate blood can be found on the Canadian Blood Services website.