Port Alberni residents have the opportunity to give a most important gift to a stranger on Dec. 1: blood.
Canada Blood Services needs 100,000 new blood donors before the end of March 2017, says spokesperson Ann Chabert; they are still looking for 55,000 to complete that number. More than 17,000 units of blood are needed each week to meet the needs of hospital patients.
New iron eligibility guidelines introduced recently means some donors won’t be able to donate as frequently, and that is changing the program. The holiday season is a busy one for blood services, so the push is on. Did you know that one in two Canadians is eligible to donate, but only one in 60 will? Sometimes all it takes is asking.
So we’re asking. You can take a short survey online to check your eligibility.x
The Port Alberni Blood Donor Clinic on Dec. 1 takes place at the Italian Hall, 4065 Sixth Ave. from 2–7 p.m. Book appointments online at blood.ca, by downloading the GiveBlood App or by calling 1-888-236-6283.
The blood donor clinic takes place approximately every six weeks.
facebook.com/albernivalleynews