Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services invites UWindsor students to make a donation at its campus blood donor clinic Tuesday—and bring a friend.

“Bringing a friend along gives our valued donors a chance to double the amount of good they can do,” says Joan Hannah, community development coordinator for Canadian Blood Services. “Many potential donors never give blood because they have never been asked.”

She said the process, from walking in the door, through screening, donation and recovery, takes only an hour.

A blood donor clinic scheduled for Vanier Hall on Wednesday, September 26, is aimed at students living in residence but open to all, says Canadian Blood Services.

The clinic runs 5 to 8 p.m. in the Oak Room; as always, walk-in donors are welcome. The entire experience, including health assessment and recovery, takes about an hour.

According to Joan Hannah, community development coordinator for Canadian Blood Services, a September 18 clinic in the CAW Student Centre collected 128 units, well over its target of 86.

Did you know it takes up to 50 blood donors to help a victim of a car accident? During the summer, Canadian Blood Services needs almost 200,000 donors to give blood to meet patient and hospital demand.

It can be a challenging time for the blood program; as donors change their routines, stopping by a clinic isn’t always top of mind. Meanwhile, the need for blood doesn’t take a holiday.

Even people ineligible to donate blood for any reason can help to increase the vital supply, says Courtney Cail.

The fourth-year biology student is president of the Young Blood Club, which encourages participation in the donor clinics of Canadian Blood Services.

“The need for blood is so high right now,” Cail says. “We’re having problems meeting hospital demand.”

Because she is unable to give blood herself for medical reasons, she says, she recruits. “I want people to donate on my behalf.”