Temporary blood clinic to open in Vernon

Dec 30, 2021 | 11:19 AM

Vernon and area residents will have several opportunities to donate blood in January.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) will be operating a temporary blood donation clinic out of the Trinity United Church on Jan. 3 to 5, as well as on Jan. 15 and 31.

The hours of operation for Jan 3 to 5 will be 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. The donation centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on on Jan. 15 and 31.

Gayle Voyer, associate director for Donations and Collections in B.C and Yukon, told Vernon Matters that having the opportunity to run a temporary blood donation centre is really important, especially because CBS doesn’t have a permanent location in Vernon.

“We do have an immediate need for donors, so just by having the support of the community and having people booking those appointments, it really does help us to do the work we do and save the lives of hospital patients,” said Voyer.

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CBS is specifically looking for people with O negative blood to donate, as that is the universal donor, but Voyer said any blood would be beneficial. People who don’t know their blood type prior to donating will be contacted by CBS a few weeks after and told about their blood type.

Voyer said this temporary donation centre would be set up like any of their permanent locations.

“We do have the check-ins on our kiosk, we still go through your health questionnaire when you arrive, and then we have the donors go into the private screening rooms with our donor care associates and walk through any questions that the donors may have and walking through the health questionnaire with them as well,” said Voyer.

People who wish to donate are asked to make an appointment in advance online or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283). People can also download the Give Blood app and use that to schedule an appointment.

Details on eligibility and answers to frequently asked questions like COVID-19 protocols and donating while taking medications can also be found on the CBS’s website.

CBS will also be opening a temporary donation centre at St. Joseph Church in Armstrong on Jan. 10 and 11, and will be back in Vernon at Trinity United Church on Feb. 1, 2 and 28.

Kelowna is also home to B.C.’s only plasma donation centre, and Voyer encourages anyone who may be going to that area to consider scheduling an appointment at the Orchard Park Mall location.

by Liam Verster

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