Donors walking through the doors of the clinic on Saanich Road know theyB次元官网网址檒l be making a big difference in the lives of people they have never met, half a litre at a time.
B次元官网网址淚 try to get in here every 56 days,B次元官网网址� said Hugh Wilzewski as he catches up on the news while his blood is collected.
The Central Saanich man estimates he has donated more than 70 times over the course of his life.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bit of public service,B次元官网网址� Wilzewski says of the hour-long process involved in donating blood. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a worthwhile civic duty, youB次元官网网址檙e helping a lot of people.B次元官网网址�
Ann Chabert, the territory manager with Canadian Blood Services, says the Saanich clinic has a target of collecting from about 100 donors, on average, a day.
B次元官网网址淭here is no alternative. We canB次元官网网址檛 make blood. If a patient goes to the hospital in need of surgery after a car crash or thereB次元官网网址檚 someone who needs cancer treatment, and thereB次元官网网址檚 blood needed for almost everything,B次元官网网址� said Chabert, adding a national inventory allows blood to be directed to regionB次元官网网址檚 where itB次元官网网址檚 needed most.
B次元官网网址淚t has to be safe, it has to be available and it has to be free. And weB次元官网网址檙e the only supply in Canada.B次元官网网址�
While Canadian Blood Services reaches out to all Canadians to make a donation, those with O- blood are particularly needed.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e called the universal donors,B次元官网网址� said Chabert. B次元官网网址淓specially in an emergency when they donB次元官网网址檛 have time to type the blood of the patient, they use O-. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the easiest blood type, but itB次元官网网址檚 only seven per cent of the population. So those people get a lot of calls from us.B次元官网网址�
The clinic at 3449 Saanich Rd. is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and alternating Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Mondays, the clinic operates a mobile donation unit that travels to communities across the South Island.
B次元官网网址淲e prefer that people make an appointment because that gives us a bit of a heads up on how the dayB次元官网网址檚 going to go. Some days are busier, some hours are busier,B次元官网网址� said Chabert. B次元官网网址淏ut if you have no time and you just want to see and walk in and risk it, youB次元官网网址檙e more than welcome.B次元官网网址�
Over the past month donors have been encouraged to fill out cards sending messages of support to cancer patients in recognition of the Daffodil campaign.
Chabert said the Saanich clinic is run through the efforts of hundreds of committed volunteers.
B次元官网网址淲e have some people who canB次元官网网址檛 donate, and thatB次元官网网址檚 an alternative. If you canB次元官网网址檛 donate you can come out and volunteer.B次元官网网址�
And Chabert has some words of comfort for those who say theyB次元官网网址檙e afraid of needles.
B次元官网网址淛ust give it a try, it really is just a poke,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the hour it takes is worth the effort. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 a [small sacrifice] to save somebodyB次元官网网址檚 life.B次元官网网址�
