(Rachel Lau/ Global News) — Hema-Quebec is asking people with O- or O+ blood to donate.
“It’s basically the effect of the infamous heat wave last week,” explained Vanessa Jourdain , a spokesperson with Hema-Quebec. “We had less donors than usual and there was a peak in terms of demand.”
Jourdain adds the goal is usually to have about 1,000 donors each day, but they will need at least 200 more than that a day over the next few days in order for the reserve to get back to normal levels.
Almost anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to donate.
“We have to ask for more donors to come to our blood drives,” she said, noting that O- blood is the universal donor, being able to give to anyone.
“A few blood drives have been added in the coming days.”
There are a few permanent centres in the Greater Montreal area:
Globule Dix30 (local 30, 9370 Leduc Blvd., Brossard, J4Y 0B3)
Globule Centre Laval (1600 Le Corbusier Blvd. Entrance 4, Laval, H7S 1Y9)
Globule Place Versailles (7275 Sherbrooke St. East, Montreal, H1N 1E9)
If you have any questions about blood donation, Hema-Quebec encourages you to go to its website or call donor services at 1-800-847-2525.