A Spokesperson with Canadian Blood Services says they don't like to think of what happens when there is a shortage of blood, and Harvey Heather is urging all of us to make sure that doesn't happen.
   
Heather says the goal was to have 75,000 new blood donors in Canada this year, but at the rate they're going will probably fall 7,000 donors short. If there is a blood shortage, Heather says surgeries may need to be cancelled and patients may not receive the help they need.

Heather says we're hitting a very critical time of year. He notes they always find around the holiday season and certainly during the summer months and long weekends the need for blood seems to go up. That's a combination of there being more motor vehicle accidents this time of year and fewer donors.
   
He notes the misconception is that less common blood types are the ones most needed at any given time, but Heather says in reality it's the most common types like 'O' and 'A' that are in most demand because they are the ones most people need.

 

Blood donor clinics will take place in Souris on December 14th and Carberry December 21st.