Some 250 blood donors needed

Turkey, gifts and mistletoe aren’t the only thing in demand over the holidays. Unfortunately, there’s often a spike in the need for blood.

That fact has the organizers of local blood drives hoping for a strong turnout over the next month. Canadian Blood Services is needs 100 donors at its Elmira donor centre (Dec. 28, 2:30-7:30 p.m. at Lions Hall), 80 in Linwood (Jan. 4, 4-8 p.m. at the Linwood Community Centre), and 80 at the Wellesley donor centre (Jan. 7, 5-9 p.m. at the Wellesley Community Centre).

Donations tend to decrease during the holidays as regular blood donors often have seasonal commitments, travel plans or a change in their routine, the agency notes. Since blood products have a limited shelf life, the demand for blood never stops; cancer patients, accident victims, and people with blood disorders rely on blood transfusions every day. More than 250 blood donations are needed over the three clinics to ensure local patients receive the blood they need.

To book an appointment today, locate a donor centre, check your eligibility and more download the GiveBlood app available on iOS or Android, visit www.blood.ca, or call 1-888-2DONATE.