Good blood supply in Canada this holiday season

Monday, December 17, 2018 ~ NATIONAL.

~ by West Shore Voice News

This year in the holiday season the blood supply in Canada has good inventory levels, as posted on the Canadian Blood Services website.

Canadian Blood Services manages the national supply of blood products for all the provinces and territories (excluding Quebec). Many variables can impact their inventory such as weather, holidays or tragic events.

As of December 15, the most widely usable O+ blood type was at 10 days supply, with B+ at 13 days and AB+ at 16 days. The lowest supply was for O- at 4 days.

In previous years there has been a significant even urgent push for blood donations around the holiday season, with some blood types at critically-low levels.

In the west shore region, the last blood donor clinic before Christmas break was today in Sooke on Monday, December 17 at the Sooke Legion. Several afternoon appointment slots were still open as of December 15.

After that, the next clinic in the region is also in Sooke on Monday January 14, followed by the first of 2019 west shore clinics at Church of the Advent in Colwood on Monday January 28 (early afternoon to early evening).

Appointments are recommended but drop-in’s are always welcome at the Canadian Blood Services mobile clinics.