K-W blood donor clinics gear up for possible long weekend supply shortage
The Canadian Blood Services is asking first time donors to step up as they prepare for a potential rise in trauma situations over the long weekend.
The K-W chapter of the organization has opened up a special donation event that runs Saturday and the Civic Holiday Monday.
They hope to see at least 65 donors come throughout the weekend, but already saw many repeat donors stop by on Saturday.
"I've been doing this [every eight weeks] since 2002," said donor Steven Thai. "The constant need for blood is just ever constant.
"If you can donate blood, do it. There should be nothing to stop you."
For others visiting the clinic at the Bridgeport Plaza in Waterloo, like Andres, Gabriel, and Angel Quintana, giving back is a family tradition.
"First my parents did it when we were small," said Gabriel. "We would do it every so often whenever they could. Then I grew up, my brother grew up, and we also wanted to do it."
Local hospitals are currently preparing for what could be a weekend filled with unexpected emergency department visits.
"People are excited because they can finally go away and do things," said Gina Leyva, community development manager for Canadian Blood Services. "We are really worried about what this long weekend will bring us.
"We did have some really extraordinary dedicated donors who carried us through the pandemic, but at this point it's just not enough to keep things going."
The organization hopes to recruit 100,000 new donors in 2022 to make up for a dip during the pandemic.
"Things have calmed down dramatically," said Thai. "We should not be scared to go out and do stuff again."
While the clinic says they're always looking for the universal donor O-negative blood type, any type is needed and will be used.
"We are really urging anyone 17 or older who is able to donate to please consider booking an appointment to donate for the first time," said Leyva.
The Bridgeport Road East location is open and accepting appointments on the Civic Holiday Monday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated J&J cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.