Canadian Blood Services has a simple message:

Please donate blood at the Owen Sound Legion,1450 2nd Ave. W., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Although the winter storms over the holidays have lessened, the need continues for more donations to restore and grow the blood and plasma supply for patients. We have seen an increase in donations and pre-booked appointments across the country since we called for donors to fill 25,000 open appointments by the end of the year. We have also returned to our normal operations and can safely distribute blood products.

The strong response from blood, plasma and platelet donors helped replenish several key blood groups. However, the inventory of blood and blood products is still not where it needs to be. More donors are needed in the winter months to restore the blood supply to an optimal level and grow Canada’s plasma supply.

Thanks to you we are no longer in a critical situation. That doesn’t mean our work together stops here; the demand for blood and blood products remains constant. We would like to thank everyone who responded to our calls for support and attended a donor centre, made an appointment, rallied their Partners for Life members, or encouraged family or friends to donate. When it really counted, you showed up and helped to ensure we could continue to meet patient needs across this country.

We anticipate disruptions to continue in the weeks ahead as blasts of winter weather return. We ask donors across Canada to continue to come forward in the next few weeks to help stabilize blood supplies and grow the plasma supply.

We encourage donors to book and keep their appointments or look for appointments that are open today. Same day and open appointment spots are often available at donation events. If you are unable to book an appointment to donate right away, please consider booking one into the following month. Whether you choose to donate blood, plasma, or platelets this week, next week, or next month, all donors are an important part of Canada’s Lifeline.

Late cancellations and missed appointments make it challenging to collect blood products. If you make an appointment, please try to keep it. If you are unable to make it to your appointment, please cancel it so we can find someone to take your place and consider re-booking as soon as possible.

Everyone who can is encouraged to donate. Ask a family member, friend, or colleague to book an appointment to donate at the same time as you or give as a group by joining or starting a Partners for Life team. Together, you can make donating blood a new meaningful tradition.

Visit blood.ca, use the GiveBlood app, or call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to find and blook an appointment at a donor centre near you.

For more information about our eligibility and screening criteria and to book an appointment to donate, please visit blood.ca, and try our online eligibility quiz.

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source: media release, Canadian Blood Services