Blood donations 'strongly' needed, bad weather to blame, agency says

Blood donations are "strongly" needed right now and the Canadian Blood Services says it's the cold, icy Winter and early Spring to blame.

"Right now we're seeing a bit of a decline in blood donors coming in due to the weather," said Kristen Beneteau, territory manager for Burlington and Hamilton.

Beneteau says targets are down with only about half of donors making their appointments. 

On Monday, the Hamilton blood donor clinic needed to collect 32 units of blood, but only collected 14.  

"The weather's been pretty odd for this time of the year with some icy conditions and I think it's starting to have an impact on our donors actually coming out and keeping their appointments," said Beneteau.

Beneteau says in general collections are down, which is common for the winter months. 

"We're seeing about on average 70 per cent of the hospital orders being filled from our Hamilton clinics."

Any shortfall in what was is being collected locally is being made up through the national blood inventory.

The service is asking people to be careful when going out to their appointments, but to also try to go to them. 

More than 150 blood donors are "strongly" needed at the upcoming Hamilton Blood Donor Clinic located at 35 Stone Church Road in Ancaster according to Beneteau.

The clinic takes place Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday from 8 to 12 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

People can book an appointment online to donate at a Hamilton or Burlington clinic.