CFN – Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for families and friends to gather, break bread and give thanks for our many blessings – and for most of us, one of our blessings is health. But health can change in an instant. This year as people prepare for the October long weekend, Canadian Blood Services is asking them to remember those whose health may be less certain and consider giving something that saves lives – their lifeblood.
The need for blood doesn’t take a break over long weekends and this is particularly true for platelets, a component of blood that helps it clot. Platelets are often used by patients undergoing treatment for diseases such as cancer and have a shelf life of just five days.
“The need for blood and blood products never stops, it never takes a vacation,” says Carolyn Boucher, community development coordinator at Canadian Blood Services. “Giving blood is one of the easiest things to do. It only takes an hour of your time and each donation can save up to three lives. As people prepare for Thanksgiving, we ask that you take a few moments to give thanks to those who give blood, and to become a donor yourself.”
The next clinic in this area is at the Cornwall Civic Complex on Tuesday October 4 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The target for this clinic is 199 units of blood.
For more information or to schedule an appointment call 1 888 2 DONATE ( 1 888 236-6283). To read personal stories of thanks from blood recipients and their families, visit www.thankyourdonor.ca.
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 43 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system. For more information, please visit our website, www.blood.ca, follow us on Twitter @itsinyoutogive, visit our official Canadian Blood Services Facebook page or YouTube channel, or call us toll-free at 1888 2 DONATE / 1 888 236-6283.
