TORONTO – Canadians skipping out on their blood donation appointments is putting increased pressure on the country’s blood supply.
According to Canadian Blood Services, around 133,000 people have cancelled an appointment this year – 119,000 have missed their appointment entirely.
The non-profit organization said the “higher than expected” number of cancellations is putting pressure on the national blood supply.
“If this current trend continues we would be concerned that regular hospital demand would put a strain on our national inventory,” said Mark Donnison, the organization’s vice president of donor relations.
Canadian Blood Services is encouraging Canadians to keep their appointments and bring along a friend.
“When a donor does not attend a scheduled appointment many of them believe that someone else in the community will step forward and take their place,” said Donnison.
But the organization said it is facing the problem of empty donor chairs and must fill an additional 78,000 appointments by the end of October in order to meet demand.
According to the organization, hundreds of thousands of Canadians require blood products every year. Most of the time, blood transfusions are done in emergency situations.
Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 50 kg (110 lbs) and be in general good health. Frequent donors must wait 56 days in between blood donations.
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