After a particularly difficult winter Canadian Blood Services (CBS) in New Brunswick is hoping more donors climb into the chair and give the extremely essential commodity.
READ MORE: Roll up your sleeves to donate blood for East Coasters hit by bad weather
At any given time, CBS is reaching out to the public in an effort to attract more people to the cause.
But after the province saw widespread power outages from blizzards and a severe ice storm, the organization is looking to spread the word that donations are more important than ever.
“We were collecting, or planned to collect in Moncton when we were hit with the blizzard,” explained Jacqueline Alain, New Brunswick territory manager for Canadian Blood Services. “So for a two-week period we were really struggling or challenged to get the number of units that we planned to collect.”
Even without unforeseen circumstances halting their collection efforts Alain said recruiting younger people to give blood is key going forward.
“Currently our donors are an aging population so we really need to get new donors involved,” she said.
Alain knows promotion is vital to their success as she believes donating blood isn’t necessarily something the majority of people typically consider.
READ MORE: Nova Scotians encouraged to donate blood to help with shortage in N.B.
“I think that people tend to want to donate, but there’s a few reasons why they don’t,” Alain said. “Perhaps that they’ve never been asked to donate.”
Bruno De Passille didn’t need to be asked to donate.
The father saw the need firsthand when his wife required a transfusion during childbirth.
Now he’s a regular and said it’s something he plans to do for years to come.
“It doesn’t cost anything, it takes 20 minutes of your time and it’s going help someone,” he said while donating. “There’s no reason not to do it.”
Giving blood to someone who needs it is a source of pride for Trevor Graham who climbed into the donor’s chair for the 110th time.
“I first did it when I was 17 to get out of class,” he joked. “I think I’ve got at least 200 or 300 more in me.”
Anyone looking for more information is encouraged to stop by a Canadian Blood Services Clinic, blood drive or look up http://www.blood.ca.
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