Despite the recent transit strike, Ottawa’s Canadian Blood Services collection centre only suffered a small dip in donations.
But with the approach of March break, the organization is putting out the call for donations in hopes that Ottawa students will help strengthen eastern Ontario’s blood supply.
“The need for blood is constant,” Canadian Blood Services spokesman Pierre Campeau said.
“And with March break coming along, it would be great if students 17 and older could come in and donate. We’re trying to make donation a part of life of someone who is younger,” said Campeau.
In Canada, donors under the age of 25 donate much less frequently than any other age group. By engaging people when they are young, younger donors are more likely to continue donating when they are older and busy with work and family life.
In eastern Ontario, there are 22 hospitals that draw on the local blood supply for medical situations that require life-saving blood.
Canadian Blood Services runs its donor clinics from daily at 1575 Carling Ave.
