Category: Blood

There’s an urgent call to give back before we see potential impacts from Idalia.OneBlood needs donations. There’s a dire need for Type O-negative, Type O-positive and platelets.“Hurricanes and tropical systems often disrupt blood collections for several days. The most critical time for blood donations is prior to any storm or hurricane in order to sustain the blood supply during and immediately after the event,” said Susan Forbes, OneBlood’s senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations.OneBlood encourages all eligible donors to roll up their sleeves and give. They serve more than 250 hospitals throughout the Southeast. Forbes says a lot of patients rely on the community’s support during emergencies. “There’s still cancer patients, premature babies, sickle cell patients, trauma patients, the list goes on and on of the people who are in the hospital and will be there during the storm who require blood transfusions. Making blood donations part of your hurricane preps is such a wonderful community service that you’re doing. I know we’re all rushing around getting our own supplies and getting our own lives in order. But you have the potential to help save somebody’s life during this storm. And it’s a power that we encourage you to share and help save people’s lives,” Forbes said. People as young as 16 can donate with their parents’ permission.Donors also need to be at least 110 pounds and in good health.OneBlood encourages all eligible donors to visit a donor center or Big Red Bus as soon as possible. For a list of OneBlood locations, visit www.oneblood.org. There’s an urgent call to give back before we see potential impacts from Idalia. OneBlood needs donations. There’s a dire need for Type O-negative, Type O-positive and platelets. Advertisement “Hurricanes and tropical systems often disrupt blood collections for several days. The most critical time for blood donations is prior to any storm or hurricane in order to sustain the blood supply during and immediately after the event,” said Susan Forbes, OneBlood’s senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations. OneBlood encourages all eligible donors to roll up their sleeves and give. They serve more than 250 hospitals throughout the Southeast. Forbes says a lot of patients rely on the community’s support during emergencies. “There’s still cancer patients, premature babies, sickle cell patients, trauma patients, the list goes on and on of the people who are in the hospital and will be there during the storm who require blood transfusions. Making blood donations part of your hurricane preps is such a wonderful community service that you’re doing. I know we’re all rushing around getting our own supplies and getting our own lives in order. But you have the potential to help save somebody’s life during this storm. And it’s a power that we encourage you to share and help save people’s lives,” Forbes said. People as young as 16 can donate with their parents’ permission. Donors also need to be at least 110 pounds and in good health. OneBlood encourages all eligible donors to visit a donor center or Big Red Bus as soon as possible. For a list of OneBlood locations, visit www.oneblood.org.

14 minutes ago LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Saturday marked three years since Lincoln Police Investigator Mario Herrera was shot while serving a warrant. He died 12 days later. During those final days of his life, officials said Herrera received many blood transfusions, keeping him alive longer than anticipated. Now Lincoln Police and Lincoln Fire & Rescue are banding together for the 12 Days of Hope blood drive to honor his memory. SEE ALSO: ‘Justice’ for another victim: Felipe Vazquez takes plea deal in 2020 homicide Sgt. Chris Vollmer said these types of anniversaries often bring mixed emotions. “You have the positives of people coming together,” he said. “Symbolizing something good, uniting of the community. But you also have the memory of the incident itself, which can be hard. And people process that in different ways.” Officials with the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, which helped run the drive, said that for every one person who donates, up to three people can be helped. Lancaster County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Gaston, who donated on Monday, said giving blood is always worthwhile. “Blood equals life,” he said. “And if we don’t donate and have a supply, then when we need it, it’s not going to be there. So, I would encourage everyone to find their own reason to donate blood.” Kari Lundeen, a spokeswoman for the blood bank, said it needs about a thousand donations a week to help everyone who needs it. She said the blood bank is hoping for at least 150 donations from the drive. SEE ALSO: Accomplice sentenced in slaying of Lincoln Police Investigator Mario Herrera “Nearly 99% of the blood that is collected by Nebraska Community Blood Bank stays right here in our state,” she said. “And there is no other way to get blood without volunteer blood donors. It can’t be manufactured; it’s not grown in a lab.” Lundeen said the Food and Drug Administration has changed its guidelines over the last few years, making more people eligible to donate. If you missed your chance to donate Monday, you can stop by a Nebraska Community Blood Bank location. The Lincoln Police Department will host another drive Sept. 7 at its headquarters at 9th and K streets. Tags: 12 days of hope, 12 Days of Hope Blood Drive, American Red Cross, Blood bank, Blood drive, blood transfusion, fallen hero, Investigator Mario Herrera, killed in the line of duty, Lincoln Fire & Rescue, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Police Investigator Mario Herrera, line of duty, LPD Mario Herrera, Nebraska Community Blood Bank, Pine Lake Road, Public Safety Center, Scott Gaston, Sgt. Chris Vollmer

UK ex-pats and Aussies who spent time in the UK have made more than 123,000 blood and plasma donations in the 12 months since the ‘mad cow’ ban was lifted, exceeding expectations. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood anticipated the rule change would lead to an additional 18,000 donors, but more than 34,000 new donors have rolled up their sleeves to give. Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Experience Cath Stone said the organisation was thrilled with the uptake in donation. “These newly eligible donors are contributing nearly one in every 10 blood and plasma donations in Australia. However, the reality is that with demand at its highest in a decade, we still need more donors to boost supplies and there are still more than 800,000 people who may have become eligible because of this rule change. “Right now, in particular, we need more people with O positive and O negative to book a donation.” She said it was important to acknowledge the incredible effort of all those who had donated in the first 12 months and who were making a very real difference to patients in need every single day. “After not being able to donate in Australia for over 20 years, it’s heartening to see these donors making up for lost time to help people who rely on blood and plasma donations,” Cath said. “Incredibly, 95 dedicated donors have each given plasma, the powerful liquid part of blood, more than 20 times in the first year!” Kirby Institute researcher Dr Skye McGregor said the UK restriction was the biggest reason people were permanently deferred from donating blood, impacting 4.4 per cent of the population. “Australia’s first study into blood donation eligibility, conducted by the Kirby Institute and Lifeblood and published in Transfusion, shows around 10.5 million people are eligible to donate blood in Australia,” Dr McGregor said. “Currently just 14.2 per cent of the eligible population are donating blood, which means there’s a huge number of people who could be donating but aren’t. “The study also shows a high level of misperceptions around blood donation eligibility, including last year’s UK change, and we believe awareness may be the single biggest barrier to lifting donation rates.” Lifeblood regularly reviews eligibility rules to ensure as many people as possible can give blood and plasma, without compromising safety, most recently reducing the wait period for blood donations from four months to seven days for people with tattoos. Given rules do change, Cath said it’s likely many people simply don’t realise they are eligible to donate blood or plasma. “I urge the community not to rule themselves out. Spread the word and encourage friends, colleagues and loved ones to check their eligibility and donate now if they can. After all, 1 in 3 Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, so we should all think about paying it forward!” To check your eligibility and book a donation, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood app. Background The human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) or ‘mad cow’ ban impacted people who lived in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Falkland Islands for six months or more between 1980 and 1996. It was removed in July 2022 following an in-depth risk assessment, performed by Lifeblood and UNSW Sydney’s Kirby Institute. It found there would be no risk of acquiring human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) from blood donations and that Australia’s blood supply would remain one of the safest in the world. Key statistics for UK donors in the first 12 months 34,389 donors have made 123,118 donations Contributed 8% of all blood and plasma donations 76% (or 26,200) returned for a second donation (the average new donor return rate is 60%) 95 people donated more than 20 times State/Territory Number of UK donors in past 12 months Number of blood and plasma collections New South Wales 9,285 30,390 Victoria 7,996 27,867 Queensland 6,842 23,832 Western Australia 6,027 23,712 South Australia 2,494 8,709 ACT 1,222 4,561 Tasmania 824 3,373 Northern Territory 204 674 National (some donors donated across states): 34,389 123,118

Florida state Democratic lawmaker Angie Nixon blamed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “anti-woke” policies for motivating the Jacksonville shooting. The Jacksonville sheriff’s office announced on Sunday that Ryan Christopher Palmeter, 21 White male, killed two Black men and one Black woman at a Dollar General store in a predominately Black neighborhood, before killing himself at the scene. “Plainly put, the shooting was racially motivated, and he hated Black people,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a news conference over the weekend. After showing clips of DeSantis declaring that “Florida, the state, and its people condemn the horrific racially-motivated murders, perpetrated by a deranged scumbag,” MSNBC anchor Lindsey Reiser asked Nixon for her thoughts about his comments Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon shares her thoughts on the horrific shooting in Jacksonville, Florida. (MSNBC) FLORIDA SHERIFF REVEALS IDENTITY OF SUSPECT IN ‘RACIALLY MOTIVATED’ JACKSONVILLE SHOOTING Nixon criticized DeSantis for making “hollow” statements, and suggested his rhetoric and policy were partially to blame for the shooting. “This is a governor who has done nothing but fan these types of happenings throughout our state. Look, at the end of the day, the governor has blood on his hands,” she said. “He has had an all-out attack, on the Black community with his anti-woke policies, which we know very well was nothing more than a dog-whistle to get folks up and riled up in the way in which it just happened on yesterday.” She continued, “Myself and other representatives, particularly Black representatives, throughout the past few legislative sessions, we have repeatedly told him what his rhetoric was going to do, and that is exactly what transpired on yesterday.” A 21-year-old White man opened fire at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, killing three people. (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office) JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF RELEASES IMAGES OF WEAPON BEARING SWASTIKAS AFTER DOLLAR GENERAL SHOOTING She blamed DeSantis as “one of the causes to this” and appeared to claim a past warning of his not to “’monkey this up’” was intended as a racially charged dog whistle that “only leads to things like this.” CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP DeSantis made a statement during the 2018 gubernatorial debate that his critics claimed was racially tinged. “The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state,” DeSantis said at the time. Democrats accused him of coded racial rhetoric because the Democratic nominee at the time was Andrew Gillum, who is Black. For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion, and channel coverage, visit foxnews.com/media Alexander Hall is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

QUINCY (WGEM) – Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and held a friendly competition Monday afternoon for a good cause. Monday marked the annual Battle of the Badges blood drive at the Quincy Regional Training Facility. The competition featured nearly two dozen first responders from the Quincy Police Department, the Quincy Fire Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Adams County Ambulance District. Quincy fire chief Bernard Vahlkamp said Monday’s event was a fun way to help the community while raising awareness for the need of blood donations. “It’s just part of our community involvement to try to help the Red Cross out, help get blood, they’re always in dire need of a blood supply so this is just a way to bring some awareness to it and have a friendly little competition at the same time,” said Vahlkamp. He said the Red Cross helps the fire department all the time, so this was also their chance to give back. “They’re a big partner in our community. They help out during disaster relief, they help out with us at fire scenes with providing housing for people that need it that are displaced, clothing, so there’s lots of needs, lots of areas that the Red Cross works in partnership with the police and fire departments to help people in need,” said Vahlkamp. He encourages anyone else to give blood if they are able to. Whichever agency gave the most blood donations on Monday will get their name on a plaque. Copyright 2023 WGEM. All rights reserved.

As Tropical Storm Idalia—which is predicted to intensify into a hurricane— approaches the Suncoast, Suncoast Blood Centers is in need of blood donations. In order to keep blood center shelves stocked ahead of an emergency, Suncoast Blood Centers is asking for individuals who feel safe and can donate blood to consider doing so. Suncoast Blood Centers has donation centers at the following locations: Bradenton: Bayshore Shopping Center 6026 14th St. W., Bradenton Lakewood Ranch 3025 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Suite 111 Port Charlotte: Charlotte Square 2150 Tamiami Trail, Unit 17, Port Charlotte Sarasota 1760 Mound St., Sarasota Venice: Bird Bay Plaza 539 U.S. 41 Bypass, Venice In general, healthy adults over the age of 16 with no history of blood-borne illness or pathogens can donate blood. Also, donors between 16 and 18 years of age can donate with a signed parental consent form. Donors must weigh at least 110 lbs. and be in good health — that means you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, and you want to donate blood, it’s essential that you are being treated and the condition is under control. If you’re not feeling well on the day of your donation, please reschedule. Additional eligibility criteria apply, including certain medications, medical conditions, travel to certain countries, and personal history. For info, click here. For more information on hours and eligibility, click here or call (866) 959-1176.

A blood test given as early as the end of the first trimester of pregnancy could help identify patients at the highest risk of preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition associated with high blood pressure in pregnancy, before it occurs. Preeclampsia dramatically raises the odds of stillbirth and preterm birth, as well as of maternal organ damage, seizures and death. There is currently no cure for preeclampsia, which can occur from 20 weeks of pregnancy to up to six weeks postpartum, and once it’s developed, delivery is the only way to prevent the worst outcomes. Patients at high risk of the disease can lower their chance of preeclampsia by taking low-dose aspirin starting between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy — so by the end of the first trimester or early in the second. Doctors can predict a patient’s risk level from their medical history; having kidney disease or a history of preeclampsia raises one’s risk, for example. But reviewing only medical history can leave some at-risk patients out, meaning not all patients that need preventative aspirin are advised to take it. So some countries now do additional tests to improve doctors’ risk predictions, having them assess certain proteins in the blood and blood flow to the uterus. However, some of these screening tests are tricky to administer or aren’t routinely given in early pregnancy, said Bernard Thienpont, head of the Laboratory for Functional Epigenetics at KU Leuven in Belgium and senior author of new research describing the blood test. “Depending on which measures you use, you end up with different accuracy,” in terms of how many patients are accurately flagged as high risk, Thienpont told Live Science. So Thienpont and his team set out to develop a new, easy-to-give test to add to the arsenal. “We don’t see it as something that should be applied independent of all the other tests, but more as an add-on,” he said of the new blood test, which was described in a report published Monday (Aug. 28) in the journal Nature Medicine. Related: Maternal death rates doubled in the past 20 years in the US The test looks at DNA floating in the blood during pregnancy. Doctors already collect this “cell-free” DNA to run noninvasive prenatal screenings, the tests used to see if a fetus likely has extra or missing chromosomes. This free-floating DNA comes from dying cells in the body, and if you’re pregnant, a fraction comes from the placenta, which is why it’s useful for prenatal screening, Thienpont explained. This could also make the DNA useful for preeclampsia screening, Thienpont’s team thought, given evidence that the condition may stem from problems with the placenta. Preeclampsia has been linked to poor blood flow, and thus low oxygen levels, in the placenta. And in other diseases, when tissues lack oxygen, their cells can show epigenetic changes, meaning changes in the chemical tags that sit “on top of” DNA. These chemical tags include methyl groups, or molecules that latch onto genes and thus control whether they’re switched “on” or “off.” Researchers have previously examined placentas after birth and found big differences in methylation between preeclamptic and healthy pregnancies, Thienpont said. His team wanted to see if those differences could be spotted before birth. They analyzed this cell-free DNA previously collected from nearly 500 pregnant women and then stored. About one-third of the women included in the study had developed early-onset preeclampsia, which develops before week 34 of pregnancy. Both at the time of their diagnosis and weeks earlier, preeclamptic women had different patterns of DNA methylation than the control group, and these differences were linked to cell-free DNA from the placenta, rather than from other cell types. Affected genes included those that help cells of the placenta develop and mature, said Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino, a professor and co-lead of the Translational Obstetrics Group at the University of Melbourne in Australia. So the work may give clues as to reasons why preeclampsia can occur, she told Live Science in an email. This is only a theory, but “what we think is happening is that there is a delay in the development of the placenta in preeclamptic women,” Thienpont said. Using the DNA data, the team developed a model to predict patients’ risk of preeclampsia based on free-floating DNA sampled at or after 12 weeks. Tested on its own, the model identified 38% of patients who went on to develop preeclampsia while giving few false-positive results. That number jumped to 57% when the model was combined with maternal risk factors, such as having a family history of preeclampsia, and leapt to 72% when the team allowed for slightly more false-positive results. (The maternal risk factors, alone, captured only about 30% of the high-risk patients.) “It may improve if additional variables are included,” Kaitu’u-Lino said, “such as some of the variables included in the Fetal Medicine Foundation test.” The first-trimester test, used in the U.K. and Australia, accounts for many risk factors and predicts preeclampsia risk with 75% accuracy with few false positives, but it’s fairly involved and requires a special ultrasound, Kaitu’u-Lino and colleagues wrote in a commentary. Thienpont’s team is now interested in combining the new blood test with more metrics, to boost its predictive power. “But the huge potential is that this paper identifies a convincing link between a novel measurement, and a poor pregnancy outcome,” she said. “It opens the door for a new horizon of clinical biomarker discovery.”

Men are to be offered blood pressure checks in barbershops as part of an NHS drive to prevent heart attacks, as research reveals they face double the risk of women. Having high blood pressure raises the risk of a heart attack, but many men and women remain unaware they may be affected because typically there are no symptoms. Every year there are 100,000 NHS hospital admissions due to heart attacks – one every five minutes. The NHS has doubled the number of blood pressure checks for people aged over 40 in the last year, figures reveal, but officials have now green lit a huge expansion of the scheme in England. The free checks will be offered to people in a wider range of locations in an effort to spot high blood pressure early and reduce the number of heart attacks. Under the plans, patients will be able to access the potentially lifesaving checks in barbershops, churches, mosques, community centres and dominoes clubs. Research presented in Amsterdam at the world’s largest heart conference has found the relative risk of heart attacks for men is twice as high as it is for women. The study looking at sex-specific risks of cardiovascular events, led by the University of Aberdeen, was presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology. More than 20,000 people in the UK aged over 40 were tracked between 1993 and 2018. Researchers adjusted for several factors including ethnicity, deprivation, BMI, physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking status. On average, they were followed for 22 years. Research has previously shown how men generally face a higher risk of heart-related illnesses. This new study shows the extent of the difference. Compared with women, the relative risk for men of experiencing heart attacks and peripheral artery disease is twofold higher, the study found. Men also have a 50% higher risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The study discovered that men have a 42% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The research did not look at why. Men are also more likely to experience a heart attack at a younger age than women. “Men had a higher risk of incident cardiovascular disease throughout their lifetime than women, but these sex differences were most pronounced for myocardial infarction and peripheral artery disease, followed by atrial fibrillation, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality,” the study concluded. Lead researcher Dr Tiberiu Pana, an honorary research fellow at the University of Aberdeen and a junior doctor in the NHS, said: “The advice is that men should start looking early at risk factors, like obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and reach out to their GP to get those things addressed. “The earlier the better. There’s no harm in minimising your cardiovascular risk.” Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This large study again highlights that men more commonly have heart attacks at a younger age than women. skip past newsletter promotion after newsletter promotion “Coronary heart disease is the most common killer of men. There’s never been a better time to get physically active and replace that pub session with an extra session in the gym.” However, both Pana and Babu-Narayan said it was important to stress that women also face significant risks of heart attacks and strokes, and should also take measures to reduce their risk. “If we consider the effects of heart disease over a lifetime we need to remember that it costs lives for both men and women,” said Babu-Narayan. “With 30,000 women in the UK admitted to hospital with a heart attack each year, it is vital to dismantle the dogma that heart attacks are the preserve of men. Regardless of gender, cardiovascular disease is the world’s biggest killer and there are steps everyone can take to reduce their risks. “Eating a healthy, balanced diet, being physically active, managing your weight and attending health checks when offered can all help improve your chances of being free of cardiovascular conditions.” The blood pressure checks expansion will see a further 2.5m performed in the community in England. The NHS estimates they will prevent about 1,350 cardiovascular events every year. Figures show there were 150,000 community blood pressure checks in May this year, more than double the 58,000 delivered in May 2022. David Webb, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said: “With the number of people living with major illnesses including heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions set to grow substantially over the coming years, it has never been more important to put in place preventive measures like easy-to-access blood pressure checks that can pick up the early signs and risks.”

British men have been urged to get a grip of their unhealthy lifestyles after a major study revealed they are twice as likely to suffer heart attacks as women. The NHS will start offering blood pressure checks in barber shops so that men can have a test while they have their hair cut, in a drive to identify those at high risk of deadly heart problems. Health chiefs hope that offering millions of free checks to the over-40s will prompt men to lose weight, cut down on drinking, and start medication such as statins before it is too late. Heart disease is the biggest killer of men in the UK, and new research has provided the first comprehensive breakdown of the scale of the increased Related articles

Breadcrumb Trail Links News National Local News As the country faces heat waves, floods, wildfires and droughts, the number of people showing up to donate blood has fallen dramatically Steve Thor donates blood with phlebotomist Debbie Prasad at Canadian Blood Services in Calgary on Monday, August 28, 2023. Thor was making his 121st donation having started donating when he was 17 years old. Canadian Blood Services is urging everyone who can to donate blood or plasma to help boost supplies. Gavin Young/Postmedia Article content The wildfires raging across British Columbia and Northwest Territories have pinched Canada’s blood supply, prompting a flood of cancellations — 300 of them in Kelowna, B.C. — amid the typical no-shows during the summer months. Now, other provinces, including Alberta, have been called upon to fill gaps in a waning blood inventory, a lack of which could threaten the lives of patients suffering from complications during pregnancy, children with severe anemia, accident victims, people undergoing surgery and cancer treatments, and those with kidney and liver diseases. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Article content Article content The problem facing blood donations in B.C. and N.W.T is not unique. “Between heat waves and forest fires, torrential rains and flash floods, communities are strained, as people cope with the emergencies in front of them,” Ron Vezina, vice-president of public affairs at Canadian Blood Services, said in a statement. Several spots have opened up in Calgary’s blood donation centres, the largest of which is in the Eau Claire Market. Shamus Neeson, territory manager at the organization, said centres in Calgary have 312 open appointments between now and Labour Day. “Our hearts definitely go out to those communities that have been impacted by the events that have been going on all summer long,” said Neeson, adding that cancellations, however, mean that blood “needs to come from somewhere.” ‘Patients not taking a break’: Canadian Blood Services urge Calgarians to donate blood Ford: Why are there so many selfish Canadians who do not donate blood? But loyal donors in Calgary are often away at this time of year, Neeson said, citing the double whammy that has hit Canadian Blood Services, which sees a cancellation rate of 10 to 20 per cent. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “Long weekends are always tough for Canadian Blood Services. People are making appointments, which is great, but they’re not always able to honour those appointments,” he said. “When you look at the total amount for the entire province of Alberta, we’re sitting at just shy of 1,000 that need to be filled for Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer.” For Canada, that number rises to 10,000. On average, every 60 seconds someone in Canada requires blood, according to Canadian Blood Services. Donated blood can only be stored for up to 42 days, leaving centres in constant need of what is commonly referred to as “the gift of life.” Calgary’s blood centres, which need at least 4,300 people a month to keep its taps flowing to the region’s hospitals, were short 538 appointments on July 21 to meet its monthly goals. And the race to fill those gaps continues. A blood donor clinic pictured at a shopping mall in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 27, 2020. Photo by Jeff McIntosh /The Canadian Pres Fires, spurred on by climate change, have wreaked havoc in Western Canada, gobbling up vast swaths of lands, charring hundreds of homes and sending scores of residents in B.C. and N.W.T to seek temporary refuge in Calgary and its surrounding regions. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “We’re asking everyone who can to please donate blood or plasma and to help spread the word, by inviting others to join them in donating,” Vezina said. Finding the right candidates is also a challenge, since those who are pregnant, below 17, lighter than 50 kilograms, have been inked with tattoos in the past three months, take certain prescription medications, or have travelled