Canadian Blood Services is calling all new and existing blood donors to make an appointment to make a difference.

The not-for-profit charitable organization is hosting a donation event at the Owen Sound Legion November 2 and 30, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day.

All available appointments need to be filled to help make a difference in the lives of patients by donating blood, plasma or platelets this November.

Please remember, making an appointment is necessary. Keeping it is crucial. Missed or cancelled appointments cannot be filled by a walk-in donor. Your donations matter. Patients — those among our most vulnerable populations — are grateful for your generosity, commitment, and support as donors. If you find that an event is initially full, please save the date and keep checking back on blood.ca.

Same day appointments are often available – in fact, there's a high number of last minute cancellations on the day of the clinic so often appointments can be booked on the morning of the event.

Every donation appointment this fall needs to be filled. Everyone who can is encouraged to donate. Ask a family member, friend, or colleague to book an appointment to donate at the same as you. Together, you can make donating blood a new meaningful tradition. Without the ongoing dedication of blood and plasma donors, patients in Canada wouldn’t have access to lifesaving care where and when they need it.

Calling all new and existing blood donors!

• Each year, over 100,000 new donors are needed to make up for those who can no longer donate. This helps ensure reliable access to blood and blood products for patients, where and when they need it.
• Currently, the need for plasma is more than four times what is donated in Canada. It could take over 100 plasma donations to help treat one patient for a year.
• All blood types are needed. Encourage a family member, friend or colleague to book an appointment to donate blood as well.
• O-negative blood donors are especially needed though because this blood type can be transfused to any patient. In times of emergency or for newborn patients, O-negative blood, the universal blood type, makes a lifesaving difference.
• If you’re in general good health, now more than ever, your support is needed to help fill every available appointment. Confirm your eligibility, find a donor centre near you and book now at blood.ca.
• Donors from diverse communities help meet the needs of patients who need blood, plasma or stem cells. In some rare instances, patients require matches beyond basic blood groups which they are most likely to find in a donor from the same ethnic background (i.e. a compatible donor from within their community.)

Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization that operates independently from government. Created in 1998 to ensure Canadian patients have reliable access to safe, high-quality blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs and tissues, through a memorandum of understanding between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, funded primarily by the provincial and territorial governments. It is a registered charity that accepts financial donations.

source: media release