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By Gates Guarin

Encouraging numbers in Medicine Hat area, but Canadian Blood Services still lacking donors

Dec 14, 2022 | 3:18 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Canadian Blood Services is encouraging those in the community to continue to give the gift of life this holiday season, as inventory and donorship across Canada are on the decline.

The service is estimating that 25,000 appointments still need to be filled nationally before the end of the year, as the supply has come in lower than anticipated. The onset of cold and flu season has caused many appointments to be cancelled or unattended, and Lisa Castro, territory manager, says the numbers are worrisome.

Castro says the numbers in the Medicine Hat area are quite high. More than 600 new and returning donors have made donations to date in the city and area, but Castro adds over 31,000 donors were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the service has been operating with its smallest donor base in over a decade.

“We’re really, really trying to work hard to rebuild those numbers and want to encourage more people to invite their friends, their family, your colleagues, maybe your business might be interested partnering with us,” Castro says. “There’s so many different ways that you can give back to Canada’s lifeline, and anyone can get involved.”

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Castro says new campaigns are in place to help donate over the holiday season and into 2023. The ‘3 in 2023‘ campaign aims to challenge Canadians to make three different contributions to Canada’s lifeline. More information on the many ways you can donate can be found on the Canadian Blood Service’s website.