Hema-Quebec is asking people with O- or O+ blood to donate.
“It’s basically the effect of the infamous heat wave last week,” explained Vanessa Jourdain, a spokesperson with Hema-Quebec.
“We had less donors than usual and there was a peak in terms of demand.”
Jourdain adds the goal is usually to have about 1,000 donors each day, but they will need at least 200 more than that a day over the next few days in order for the reserve to get back to normal levels.
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Almost anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to donate; for a list of criteria, click here.
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“We have to ask for more donors to come to our blood drives,” she said, noting that O- blood is the universal donor, being able to give to anyone.
“A few blood drives have been added in the coming days.”
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There are a few permanent centres in the Greater Montreal area:
- Globule Dix30 (local 30, 9370 Leduc Blvd., Brossard, J4Y 0B3)
- Globule Centre Laval (1600 Le Corbusier Blvd. Entrance 4, Laval, H7S 1Y9)
- Globule Place Versailles (7275 Sherbrooke St. East, Montreal, H1N 1E9)
If you have any questions about blood donation, Hema-Quebec encourages you to go to its website or call donor services at 1-800-847-2525.
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To find a blood drive near you, click here.
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