Holidays put strain on blood supply
Jun 29, 2009 - 02:19 PM
AJAX -- Due to an increase in traffic injuries throughout the summer holidays, Canadian Blood Services is urging Ajax and Pickering residents to help top up the blood supply at blood donor clinics around Canada Day.
"An increase in hospital demand last summer led to the need for Canadian Blood Services to call on donors nationwide as our national blood inventory was depleted by 40 per cent," said Diana McCulloch, Blood Services community development co-ordinator. "We urge blood donors to give this summer to maintain inventory levels, especially around long weekends."
According to the Canada Safety Council website, travel to the cottage has its risks; half of all road fatalities and about 40 per cent of serious traffic injuries in Canada occur on undivided rural roads. According to Transport Canada, road traffic injuries are the second leading cause of death for people aged five to 25, and an accident victim may require 30 to 50 units of blood and blood products to survive.
A blood donor clinic will be held at the McLean Community Centre (95 Magill Dr.) on Saturday, July 4, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
Phone: 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283)
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