Thousands of blood donations needed before end of year, says agency

Canadian Blood Services says snowstorms, freezing rain and unexpected snowfall across the country have hamperedefforts bymanyto give blood this winter.

The non-profit organization says about 26,000moredonors are needed across Canada before the end of the year.

"We are a little nervous today," CheriseLouie, a spokeswoman Canadian Blood Services in B.C., said Tuesday.

• More Ottawa-area donors needed to avoid blood shortage, says Canadian Blood Services

The need for bloodis linked to the hospital orders the agencyreceives and anticipates from across the country, Louie said.

Canadian Blood Services says while there has been some pick-up, the need is still high.

Last week, Canadian Blood services lost close to 2,000 donations in a few days alone, because of poorweatherand a holiday lull.

"We do have about 30 or 40 appointments needed, so we do need more donors [to come in]" Louie said from the Oak Street blood donor clinic in Vancouver.

Saving lives

Barbara Crichton has always donated blood, but after her son hadaliver transplant, she was spurredto do more. Chrichton nowvolunteers at the blood donorclinic each week.

"I'm just so thankful to everyone who donates,"Crichton said.

For Bruce Nolte, who has donated blood 181 times, getting a needle in the arm and watching the blood flow into a baghas become commonplace.

"Knowing that people need blood, and it can be used for everything fromsurgeries to newborns, well, it goes to save lives," Nolte said.

"Every time you give, it can save lives.".

To find the donorclinic closest to you and the hours it is open, visit:

https://blood.ca/en/blood/clinic-hours#blood