(Lindsey Shuey/Republican-Herald via AP, File)

By Rachel May

Donating blood

Mobile blood donation clinics coming for Melfort and Tisdale

Jul 20, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Canadian Blood Services is bringing two clinics to the northeast.

As summer vacations take place, blood donors are down across the country. However, Canadian Blood Services is hoping people can find time to make a life-saving donation.

Lisa Beechinor Territory Manager of Donor Relations told northeastNOW that they always receive a warm welcome when bringing clinics to the area.

“We’re very lucky. Melfort and Tisdale are phenomenal communities for us and the way everybody reaches out is just great,” she said.

Although donors are greatly needed, clinics face another problem: no-shows.

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Those who fall ill, have an emergency or simply change their mind are encouraged to cancel their appointment. This is so those who want their spot can take it.

Beechinor explained that although running the clinics and seeing the smiling faces is rewarding but donors can carry the knowledge that they are helping people in Saskatchewan.

“It gives people those extra months,” she said. “Sometimes it takes people to the other side where they are they’re healthy. It gives it doesn’t cost you a penny and what you can do for another human being is absolutely amazing.”

Blood donated in the northeast is shipped to Regina for testing and then sent to hospitals that request blood or where the need is present such as the scenes of accidents or events where people are in medical distress that may require transfusions.

Beechinor said that currently one in two Canadians are eligible to donate but only one in 81 actually do. This means two per cent of Canadians supply blood for the entire country.

For those coming to the clinic in Melfort on July 24 or the clinic in Tisdale on Aug 7, Beechinor wants to remind donors to eat a healthy meal and drink lots of fluids.

If you are interested in signing up for a spot at a mobile clinic or seeing what Canadian Blood Services has to offer, visit their website.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM