Residents from St. Paul and the surrounding area were feeling giving last week, as nearly 150 people were able to successfully donate blood during the Canadian Blood Services clinic at the Rec. Centre, Wednesday.
“We have a great response,” says Judy Jones, associate director donor relations Alberta/Saskatchewan/Northwest Territories with Canadian Blood Services. The organization usually aims to collect about 120 units of blood at the St. Paul clinics, and was able to collect 147, last week.
The clinic ran from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30, and was again open from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jones says Canadian Blood Services has been doing some work in the community to help increase awareness on the need for blood year-round. She says that although the need doesn’t necessarily increase during the summer months, the amount of people who donate blood can sometimes decrease due to busy summer schedules and holidays.
“It’s just people’s lifestyles change,” she says. “We just want to keep (supply) at optimal levels,” she adds.
Right now, Blood Services would like to increase its inventory of units of O Negative, since that’s the blood type used in emergency situations. There is also a need for more A Negative donors.
Sitting in one of the chairs at the Rec. Centre last week donating blood was Kendall Albert. Wednesday was Albert’s seventh time donating blood. He says one summer, one of his bosses encourage him, along with other employees, to donate blood, a habit he has now continued on with.
He says even in high school, he was interested in the idea of donating blood, and recognizes it’s a crucial service on a personal level. Albert’s girlfriend was in a serious vehicle accident when she was young, and required blood.
“It’s just a really good cause,” he says, as he relaxes in the chair, flexing his arm every once in a while.
For those who are interested in donating blood but missed last week’s clinic, Jones encourages them to download the “Give Blood” app so they can search for clinics. Even while people are on holidays, there is likely a clinic in the area that they can visit, she adds.
“You can donate on the go.”
