/Canadian Blood Services
Half of all Canadians will either need blood or know of someone who will need blood at some point in their lives. That’s 17.5 million reasons why it’s time to donate blood, if you are an eligible donor.
On March 31, Brock will hold their annual blood donor clinic on campus. The clinics are held in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium, where students, faculty and staff can donate blood or volunteer in the recovery area.
While the notion of giving blood might seem intimidating for first-time donors, it’s a small act that has the ability to profoundly help others in the Niagara community.
Canadian Blood Services will even help you determine your blood type, for those of you who are unsure. Your blood type determines who you can donate to, or who you can receive blood from. People with type O negative are considered universal donors, as they can donate red blood cells to all other blood type recipients. That’s why it is in high demand. This type of blood is used in emergency situations when there isn’t enough time to safely test a patient’s blood type.
People with type AB positive are considered universal recipients for red blood cells, as they can receive them from any other blood type donor. The most common blood type in Canada is O positive, about 38 per cent of the population has it, which is why Canadian Blood Services have the greatest need for type O blood. The least common type is AB negative, this blood type is less than one per cent of the population.
The donation process as a whole will take about an hour from start to finish. However, don’t let that time frame scare you away because the portion of time that is designated to the actual donation is only about fifteen minutes. After giving blood, donors will receive a cookie and a juice box to help them recover.
If you are interested in giving blood and cannot make it out to the clinic, you can book an appointment online or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Visit the Canadian Blood Services website, blood.ca, for eligibility requirements and restrictions.
-Loredana Del Bello, Assistant News Editor
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