Canadian Blood Services said its Saskatoon blood donation clinic was over-capacity on Saturday as nearly double the average number of donations were received.
On an average Saturday, the Saskatoon clinic receives 80 blood donations. On Saturday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., 150 donations were received.
READ MORE: ‘Heartbroken and completely devastated’: 15 dead in Humboldt Broncos bus crash
Some people reported waiting two hours to donate.
In response to the Humboldt bus crash that killed 15 people, Saskatoon City Councillor Bev Dubois took to Twitter Friday evening encouraging people to donate blood.
READ MORE: Humboldt Broncos player Logan Boulet taken off life support, organs donated
Watch below: The tragic bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team has resulted in a surge in blood donations and people registering to become organ and tissue donors. Su-Ling Goh reports.
There was also an increase in donations in several other cities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Saturday.
Edmonton received 133 donations on Saturday. The city would usually see about 120 donations on a typical Saturday.
Logan Klatt, 20, played hockey with Stephen Wack and Conner Lukan, who both died in the crash. He also played hockey with Tyler Smith, who Klatt said remains in hospital.
Klatt rolled up his sleeves to donate blood for the first time in Edmonton on Monday.
“Just really devastating news,” he said. “I wasn’t doing anything today and I thought it would be a good time to come donate.
“Just donate if you can.”
St. Albert received 110 donations, where they would usually see 96.
Calgary received 117 units of blood; that city would usually receive 96.
READ MORE: Alberta community of St. Albert grieves loss of 4 Humboldt Broncos players
Saskatoon saw 124 blood donors on Saturday; the city would usually see 80.
Regina collected 77 donations, where they would usually collect 48.
Winnipeg received 126 donations, where the typical Saturday target is 96.
Canadian Blood Services said it can take 50 blood donors or up to 10 plasma donors to help a person in a car crash.
Watch below: The family of 21-year-old Logan Boulet made a painful decision following the bus crash in Saskatchewan. On Sunday, the Lethbridge native was taken off life support and his organs were donated.
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