June 14 marks World Blood Donor Day, which will showcase events and campaigns to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and is also used to thank volunteers for their blood and for giving a gift that saves lives.
This year's theme is "Every blood donor is a hero", and focuses on the stories of lives saved because of the angels with out wings who donate each year.
The goal of designating an annual day towards donors is to promote voluntary unpaid blood donation throughout the world. This day celebrates the role of existing voluntary blood donors around the world, encourages a new generation of blood donors to follow their example, providing adequate supplies of the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save lives.
Each year 92 million blood donations are made worldwide, with 45% of them in low-income or middle class countries coming from donors under the age of 25.
According to the Canadian blood service, the minimum age requirement at blood donor clinics is 17 years old. You need to be in general good health and feeling well. You should have had something to eat and adequate sleep. You are not allowed to give blood if you are less than 110 pounds. You must also meet iron level requirements which will be tested prior to the donation at the clinic.
At the time of donation, you will be asked a number of questions to determine your eligibility. If you have had dental treatment you may have to wait to donate. For cleanings or fillings you must wait until the day after treatment, and for extraction, root canal or dental surgery the waiting time is extended to 72 hours provided there is full recovery. If you have a cold, flu or sore throats please wait for full recovery to donate. After getting an ear or body piercing or tattooing you must wait a minimum of 6 months to donate blood or plasma.
Donating blood does not put you at risk of disease. All needles used are sterile, only used once and then discarded. The usual blood collection is a "unit" and is about half a liter, or one pint. Your body soon replaces all the blood after you donate. You are only eligible to give blood every 56 days.
For the third year in a row, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Canadian Blood Services will be teaming up for the Bleed Green Campaign. This campaign calls on extremely devoted Roughrider fans to prove their loyalty by donating blood.
If you wish to donate blood the closest clinics to the area will be happening June 18 at Kipling recreation centre from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and June 19 at Moosomin high school from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
To make an appointment for donation please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
