Life-Saving Blood In High Demand

Three key components of life are food, air, and water; blood is what carries these elements throughout our bodies.

By March 10 over 35,000 people across Canada are needed to donate this life-giving resource. In Manitoba 1,200 people are needed in the same time frame.

During medical emergencies of traumatic injury amounts of 14 or more units, or 7.35 litres of blood can be used to keep a person alive during surgery. The human holds 8-12 litres of blood.

Territory Manager Canadian Blood Services Manitoba Steve Raizen says not only is there a need for blood but need for specific blood types.

Blood is broken into a multitude of genetic markers. The four major groups of these genetic markers are classified as type A, B, AB, and O. Subtypes of these genetic markers are the Rhesus (Rh) protein, blood with the protein are known as Rh positive, those without Rh negative.

Receiving the correct blood type is vital explains Chief Medical Officer Southern Health Sante-Sud Dr. Denis Fortier. If given the wrong blood type the body with have adverse

"If we were to transfuse just any old blood into someone, depending on the genetic makeup of that blood and the blood being put into them, your body could reject it."

Fortier says when a body rejects something it has a severe immune response and can be extremely dangerous. This shows the need for a collection of different blood types.

Canadian Blood services are looking for more people with O Rh-negative blood, as it is the universal donor and can give to all other blood types.

With such a need for blood getting people interested and encouraging people to donate is one of the goals of the Partners For Life says Raizen.

The program gets businesses involved in the donation process.

"To become engaged, to donate blood as a group, create an awareness for a need for blood donors. In some communities, we are doing what we call clinic adoption, where they're taking responsibility by filling the appointments at those clinics."

Donating can be daunting for some people, however, Raizen assures the process isn’t something to fear.

He explains the process doesn't hurt and from beginning to end doesn't take more than an hour.

Since blood is a perishable resource; lasting 45 days in refrigeration; there is always a need for available blood.

Raizen says anyone over the age of 17 and in good health can donate, this blood will be used to help save a life.

More information on donating blood can be found at blood.ca