Surrey residents are being urged to donate blood in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Canadian Blood Services says that during long weekends and holidays people become busy or are away, so donating blood falls to the wayside - which becomes a big problem.
“The need for blood and blood products is constant,” said Ed Yee, the director of Donor and Clinic services for the B.C. region. “It takes many units of blood to save a patient and since one blood donation equals one unit of blood, it can take 50 units of blood to help someone in a car accident.
Over the next six weeks, the organization needs more than 6,000 additional donors to meet the needs of hospital patients all over the country and are calling on eligible residents to take the time to donate blood.
People who want to donate can go to the blood donor clinic located at #10-6830 King George Blvd.
The clinic is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, call 1-888-2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or go to www.blood.ca