Blood donors desperately needed; ‘Live Like Kody’ plasma drive set for today

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on April 4, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

In the coming days, Lethbridge and area residents will have an opportunity to share a truly precious gift. It doesn’t cost anything, and just about everyone has it to give if they are willing to give up a little bit of their time.
It’s the gift of life, and it’s desperately needed.
Canadians are being asked to roll up their sleeves and donate blood, plasma and platelets. And while the request by Canadian Blood Services is one that’s heard time and time again, blood is especially needed in the days before long weekends, and there’s one coming up in a matter of days.
More than 7,000 appointments need to be filled across Canada by April 10 to replenish supplies to meet patient needs. In Lethbridge alone more than 400 openings need to be filled by April 8 to ensure there is enough plasma.
“It’s such a great way to help save a life,” says Brenna Scott, business development manager for Canadian Blood Services in Lethbridge.
Canadian Blood Services in Lethbridge only collects plasma, and Scott says there has been a significant jump in the need for plasma across Canada, requiring the Lethbridge centre to boost its efforts to seek donors.
“We’ve seen the need for patients that are requiring plasma really increase in the past number of years, so that’s why we’re trying to increase how much we collect, as well.”
Plasma, which makes up about 55 per cent of blood, is the primary component in immunoglobulin, the most widely used medication made from plasma that is used to treat patients with immunodeficiencies, autoimmune disease, neurological disorders and many other medical conditions.
A special plasma drive called Live Like Kody will be held in Lethbridge, which, for the third consecutive year, will honour a local boy who died in 2020. Kody’s Family and friends organize the drive in his memory, and Scott urges residents to support the event, which will run all day today.
Scott says it only takes about 40 minutes to give plasma – just a little longer than it takes to donate blood – and even though there are many regular donors in Lethbridge and surrounding communities, she urges people who have never donated before to step up, even if they’re afraid of needles.
“We very much appreciate our regular donors, but we’re always looking for new ones, as well.”

Although there is a continuous need for all blood types, the CBS notes in a recent news release there is a greater need for donors who have O-negative blood. O-negative blood donors are especially needed because this blood type can be transfused to any patient. In times of emergency or for newborn patients, O-negative blood, the universal blood type, makes a lifesaving difference.
Appointments are generally required, and same-day appointments are often available every day at many donor centres and community events across the country. Scott says there’s often room for drop-ins at the Lethbridge plasma centre, as well, which is located at 3735 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.
To book an appointment go online to blood.ca, or use the GiveBlood app, or call 1-888 236-6283.

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