Canadian Blood Services seeks 900 donations from Nova Scotians

Canadian Blood Services has issued a second urgent callfor blood donations during the holiday season.

On Dec.18, the agency asked that Canadians step up to fill 35,000 donation appointments by Jan.6. A statement from the agency says it'sseen a "notable increase" since the call, but says 18,000 more appointments are needed across the countryto maintainsupply levels.

More than 2,000of those appointments are required in Atlantic Canada and 900 in Nova Scotia alone.

"The challenge is that we have a lesser attendance over this period of time," saidPeter MacDonald, director of donor relations for Atlantic Canada.

"[The holidays season] is a busy time for people, they're out of their regular routine, but certainly hospital patients don't get to have a Christmas vacation without blood products being there for them."

Perishable supply

MacDonald said adip in attendance is also common during summer months, when regular donors are travelling during vacation periods. But many people might not realizethat blood is perishable and the demand "never takes a holiday," he said.

Three components red cells, plasma and platelets are drawn from every blood donation.Plasma can be frozen and will last up to a year, but red cells only last 42 days and platelets only a week.

"Platelets are a key part of cancer and leukemia treatments, and the supply is so perishable," MacDonaldsaid.

He saidthat while there's a need for all blood types, there's a particular need for typeO negative, which only sevenper centof the population have, but which accounts for 12 per centof blood issuedto hospitals.

"I know we're past the gift-giving part of the season, but bloodis a gift that can't be bought. It allows hospital patients the opportunity to create memories over the holidays that they might not be able to otherwise."

The season for giving

Halifax naval engineer Kale Lagos dropped into the Halifax Canadian Blood Services clinic on Bayers Road on Thursday.

"I had the free time and was nearby, so I saidof course, why not?" said Lagos, who added he also donates when mobile blood clinics visit the Halifax naval dockyard.

Lagos saidhe understandsthe importance of blood donations becausehe's seen "the other side"of them: His wife has low blood iron, and she once received a donation when her iron levels were critically low.

"You don't really know how important it is until you see it for yourself," he said.

Lagos saidthat while people should try to donate any time of year, he thinks holiday vacations, when people have free time, is the best opportunity to donate. Italso goes along with the holiday spirit of giving, he said.

"I'd say it's always a good gift, but this time of yeareveryone is filled up on turkey dinner," Lagos saidwith a smile. "So iron content should be nice and high."

For more informationhow to donate blood, visit blood.ca.