Blood donor clinic set for Canada Day

Canadian Blood Services is holding a blood donor clinic on Canada Day. The clinic runs from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. The goal is to collect 72 units of blood. 

Event Coordinator Mariam Brisson says it’s a quick process that could save a life. She noted the standard time is about an hour, from start to finish. Brisson says once you come in, you’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire and then head to screening. From there, donors will have their blood drawn, which takes between 3 and 5 minutes.  

Brisson says the need is high for O negative blood, which is used in emergencies. She noted Canadian Blood Services has less than 4 days of O negative on hand currently and with the long weekend coming up, that’s when a lot of accidents happen. 

A person who has been in a car crash can require upwards of 50 units of blood.  

People who have never donated blood can take a short quiz online by clicking here to see if they would make a good donor. Call Canadian Blood Services directly at 1-888-2DONATE to book an appointment or use the GiveBlood app.