Canadian Blood Services looking for donors as long weekend approaches
Canadian Blood Services is celebrating the loyalty of donors during the pandemic as it marks National Blood Donor Week.
CBS says the demand for blood hasn’t slowed amid COVID-19 and they want to thank Albertans for their dedication.
“The support was really strong, but with the lockdown lifting we’re really needing that support to come out now over the summer months,” said Lisa Castro, Canadian Blood Services territory manager.
A recent ISPOS poll commissioned by CBS found 97 per cent of donors still feel safe donating blood.
Canadian Blood Services says precautions such as COVID-19 screening, physical distancing and increased sanitization have been implemented for the entirety of the pandemic to keep donors safe.
“Canadians really rely on us to keep that blood supply strong and safe,” said Castro. “And we’re really counting on blood donors across Canada to help us.”
The organization is hopeful a steady flow of donations continues as restrictions ease.
“With the long weekends fast approaching, we have the July long weekend coming up and from now until then we still have approximately 900 open appointments that are available in Edmonton and surrounding communities.”
Appointments to donate can be booked online, over the phone or on the GiveBlood app.
“We’re hoping that more new donors will take the time to make a difference and ensure patients receive blood when they need it most.”
National Blood Donor Week is June 13 to 19.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Closing arguments heard in trial for Sask. dad accused of abducting daughter
Closing arguments were heard Thursday morning in the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter in 2021 to keep her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.