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Blood Donations Down

Friday, 13 July 2018 05:32

Canadian Blood Services says they have been falling short of their blood donation quotas in Oxford lately.


OXFORD COUNTY - Canadian Blood Services are encouraging more people to donate blood this summer.

They haven't been hitting their blood quotas in Oxford County recently, so they are hoping more people will step up.

Territory Manager Kristen Ungar says every donation counts.

"Someone with leukemia can use up to eight units of blood a week; that's eight donors needed just for one patient per week. Someone who has been in a bad car crash can use up to 50 units of blood."

Ungar says all blood types are needed, but O blood is in higher demand.

"O- is the universal donor so that blood type can go to everyone and O+ is the most common blood type so that can go to most people that are in the hospital waiting for a blood transfusion."

39 percent of Canadians have O+ blood.

The donation process is quite simple. It is as follows;

1) Drink lots of water and eat about one hour in advance.
2) Register at the clinic and fill out a questionnaire. Those who have already donated can fill out a portion of the questionnaire online beforehand.
3) Meet with a screening nurse to review your eligibility.
4) Lay on a bed to donate.
5) Enjoy refreshments afterwards.

All donations are screened after donation and sent to local hospitals only days afterwards.

Canadian Blood Services have also updated their eligibility requirements recently. For example; you now have to wait three months to donate after a tattoo or piercing instead of six months. You can find the complete eligibility requirement list online here.

Here's a list of the upcoming blood donation clinics in Oxford County;

Ingersoll - Thursday July 19th
Unifor Local 88
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Norwich - Monday July 23rd
Norwich Community Centre
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Woodstock - Thursday August 2nd
Goff Hall
1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tillsonburg - Friday August 3rd
Tillsonburg Community Centre
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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