Remember the days when you used to fear needles like death? Do you still fear needles like death? Well, this may change your mind: one little prick could save a life.
Yup. Every 60 seconds, someone in Canada needs blood, which is why this upcoming long weekend there will be 5,760 people who will require blood, according to the Canadian Blood Services.
So, if you’re feeling in a mood for giving something that doesn’t involve your money, a blood clinic will open up in Sooke on Monday (Aug. 31), at Sooke Royal Canadian Legion, 12:30 to 7 p.m.
The customers? Cancer patients who need treatment, heart patients undergoing surgery, and car crash victims and the latter who are rushed into ER.
Half of all Canadians will also either need blood or know someone who will need blood at some point in their lives.
On average, 1,600 new donors are needed every week to help patients today and in the future, and 16,000 blood donations are needed every week to meet patient needs.
So naturally, where there’s more, the power grows; for example, it can take eight blood donors a week to help someone with leukemia.
And for those a bit more generous, blood isn’t the only thing they can donate. There are close to 1,000 patients waiting for stem cell transplant, and one organ donation may save up to eight lives and tissues up to 75 lives.
To book your appointment with a blood clinic, go to blood.ca, download the GiveBlood app, or call 1-888-236-6283. For info on organ donations, visit blood/ca/organs-tissues.
news@sookenewsmirror.com