Being there when the community needs you is almost second nature to Saanich’s first responders. And the latest initiative backed by police and firefighters in Saanich is certain to provide comfort and security when residents need it most.
Members of Saanich Police and the local fire department were on hand at Canadian Blood Services’ Saanich location last week to roll up their sleeves and provide a shot in the arm for those facing a life-threatening emergency.
Giving blood is probably not the most heroic act performed by our first responders, but that doesn’t lessen the importance of the cause.
Canadian Blood Services needs about 170,000 additional donors per year to maintain the national blood supply. It can take up to 50 donors to help a single motor vehicle accident victim. And while about half of all Canadians are eligible to give blood, last year only one in 60 eligible donors made a commitment to give.
Close to 52 per cent of Canadians say they, or a family member, have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment. While there is a need for all blood types, there is a specific need for O negative blood donors. When seconds count, someone’s life is on the line, and there’s no time to check for blood type, hospital patients receive O negative blood.
It’s not every day when the average citizen can have the same impact on the health and well-being of the community as those who work on the front lines as police and firefighters. But all it takes is a quick stop at a local blood clinic to become a hero in somebody’s life.
Canadian Blood Services is located at 3449 Saanich Rd. with clinic hours running Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every other Saturday (the next on Nov. 21) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.