Blood
‘Without it, lives are at stake’: Need for blood in Sask. outpaces blood donations
Oct
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The amount of blood needed in hospitals continues to outpace the number of donations being made in Saskatchewan and across the country.
Canadian Blood Services territory manager of donor relations Aaron Barlow, said around 690,000 people in Saskatchewan are eligible to donate blood, but just over two per cent of the population does.
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“A surprising thing that came out of a recent survey is that people don’t donate because they’ve never been asked, so this is Canadian Blood Services asking residents of Saskatchewan and certainly across Canada to donate,” he said.
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“It is a simple process, it only takes about an hour of your time, however that hour of your time can make a lifesaving difference to a patient in need.”
Canadian Blood Services manages a national inventory which means blood can be moved around the country to regions in need. Barlow said more than 450 units of blood are distributed to hospitals in Saskatchewan every week.
“In Regina alone we have over 400 appointments per week that need to be filled to ensure we are continuing on the promise that patients are receiving blood and blood products when and where they need them,” he said, adding there are a number of open appointments that still need to be filled.
“By the end of October there’s close to 450 appointments, looking ahead to the end of November that number climbs to 1,100.”
Blood and blood products such as plasma and platelets are critical when it comes to trauma and emergency care, as well as everyday medical care including major surgeries, medical procedures, cancer treatments and managing disorders and diseases.
Dr. Oksana Prokopchuk-Gauk, hematologist and provincial clinical lead of transfusion medicine based at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, said it’s important to donate blood and blood components to prevent patient care from being impacted.
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“When a patient needs an emergency transfusion, there is no substitute. Without it, lives are at stake.”
According to Canadian Blood Services, Royal University Hospital needs more than 7,300 units of blood every year.
Mike Choi, Canadian Blood Services associate director of donor relations, said as quickly as blood is collected, hospitals are in need of more.
“There are simply not enough people donating in Saskatchewan to ensure patients’ needs will continue to be met long term,”he said.
“Life can change in seconds, and you or someone you love may need blood urgently. It’s up to all of us to ensure we can save lives here at home.”
Aaron Barlow said in general, most people who are at least 17 years of age and in good health are eligible to donate blood. However a few things that would make a person ineligible includes recent travel, medications, recent dental works, and recent tattoos and piercings.
For a successful donation experience, Barlow recommends staying hydrated, eating healthy meals especially on the day of the donation and being well-rested.
“If you’re not feeling well, maybe cancel your appointment and rebook it to ensure that another donor can take that spot.”
Those interested in donating blood are encouraged to visit Canadian Blood Services’ website to book an appointment and for information on eligibility. Appointments can also be made by calling 1-888-236-6283.
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