Islanders urged to donate blood after winter storms led to hundreds of cancelled appointments
One-third of appointments in March unfilled at Canadian Blood Services in Charlottetown
Winter weather is wreaking havoc on blood donation on P.E.I., so Islanders are being encouraged to book an appointment as soon as possible.
Canadian Blood Services' Charlottetown location needs donors after a number of people cancelled during recent storms.
Gordon Skiffington, the organization's community development manager for the Atlantic region, said there were 375 missed or cancelled appointments over that time.
"We really need to get people out, get them booking and attending their appointments over the next month," Skiffington told Island Morning's Laura Chapin. "The need for blood doesn't stop."
February has been a tough month for lost donations across the country because of all the snow that's fallen and the extreme cold that's spanned several regions.
Skiffington said Canadian Blood Services needs about 450 new donors per day across Canada to meet the demand for blood. Currently, they're only seeing about half that number.
He said many types of medical treatments aren't possible without a strong supply of blood. Children with leukemia, for example, might require up to eight donations per week while receiving treatment.
430 unfilled appointments in March
In Charlottetown, there are 430 unfilled appointments for the month of March, about a third of the slots available in a given month.
Skiffington said the blood supply is OK for now, but it might not be if the appointments aren't filled.
There is some good news that could help expand the donor pool.
In recent years Canadian Blood Services has lifted a ban on donations from sexually active gay and bisexual men. People with certain types of cancer who were once prevented from making a donation are now able to give blood if the disease has been in remission for 12 months.
The bottom line, said Skiffington, is that it's a good idea for people to check with Canadian Blood Services to see if donating is possible.
"If someone was told, even six months ago, that they could not donate, we ask that they check with us," he said.
With files from Laura Chapin