WATCH: Gayle Voyer with Canadian Blood Services talks about the national blood supply dipping and what to do about it.
With the August long weekend on the way, Canadian Blood Services is urging British Columbians to roll up their sleeves and donate.
The national blood inventory has steadily declined this summer and Gayle Voyer with Canadian Blood Services says the need heading into the long weekend and into the coming weeks is great.
Voyer says ideally, Canadian Blood Services should have between 20,000 and 30,000 units of blood in their inventory.
Currently, they are sitting at 18,000 units nation-wide.
CURRENT NATIONAL INVENTORY TREND
Voyer says the decline is typical in that they see a lot of their regular donors travel more in summer, which leads to a dip in donations.
In the B.C. and Yukon region, there are around 400 open appointments to fill over the August long weekend. In the entire month of August, more than 6,400 open appointments have to be filled in the region.
Vancouver residents can give blood at one of the following permanent clinics locations before and after the long weekend:
• Oak Street Clinic, 4750 Oak Street in Vancouver, which is open Friday, July 31 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Monday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – 169 open appointments
• Standard Life Clinic, #200-888 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver, which is open Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Wednesday, Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. – 76 open appointments
To book an appointment to give blood, go to blood.ca. Those with appointments are encouraged to keep them and, if possible, bring a friend or family member to donate with them. Walk-ins are also welcome.
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