Are you ready to donate?

By Laura Bohnert

Have you ever wanted to make a difference in someone’s life? How about save a life? On June 17 the chance may be yours.

We all hear the advertisements — “blood, it’s in you to give,” or “the life you save could be your own” — but how much of a difference can your donations actually make? A lot, actually. No matter what blood type you are — and even if you don’t know your blood type — the blood you donate could go a long way towards saving someone’s life.

On Wednesday, June 17, Canadian Blood Services will be hosting a blood donor clinic at the Seniors Circle in Whitecourt. The clinic will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m., then again from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

There are a number of reasons why people may need to receive blood donations. Blood (and blood components like platelets, red blood cells, and blood plasma) are a critical component of everyday medical care. This includes major surgeries like heart surgery, medical procedures, cancer treatments, the management of disease, and the treatment of injuries from car accidents, etc.

There is a constant need for blood and its components. Every minute, someone in Canada needs blood — and blood cannot be generated; all of the blood that is required to save someone’s life has to be donated by other people.

It takes multiple donors to help save the life of just one hospital patient. For instance, it takes donations from nearly 50 people to help save just one person who has been severely injured in a car accident; it takes as many as five donors to save someone who needs heart surgery, and it takes upwards of eight donors every week to help someone through their leukemia treatments.

Despite the constant demand for blood contributions, only one in 60 Canadians donated blood last year. If you are interested in donating blood or other blood components, call 1-888-2donate, visit www.blood.ca, or drop by the Seniors Circle on June 17 to book an appointment.

Remember to double check your eligibility before you go. In order to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old; you may need to meet height and weight restrictions if you are between 17 and 23; and, if you are over 61 your eligibility may need to be assessed by your doctor. Other factors may also impact your eligibility, for instance, if you have been vaccinated within the past few days; if you’ve gotten a tattoo’ a piercing; or even certain forms of acupuncture within the past six months; if you’ve just returned from travel to one of a few select locations; or, if you are currently on antibiotics.

For a full list of factors that may influence eligibility, or to take an online eligibility quiz, visit www.blood.ca.