It’s the holiday season, and along with the usual need to give presents, food, and other festive delights is the life-or-death need to give blood. The hospital is still in business treating more than just COVID-19, and there are a myriad of medical emergencies that require blood from millions of generous donors from across Canada, including Guelph. ‘Tis the season for giving after all, so why not give blood?

We’ve heard a lot about essential services in this pandemic, and it’s hard to think of a service more essential than blood donation. Even though we’re under lockdown again, local blood donor clinics are still open and have been open though the entirety of the pandemic. Like your local grocery shore, or your doctor’s office, Canadian Blood Services has gone to great pains to make sure people can give blood, and give safely despite COVID.

According to Health Canada’s own website, “Donating blood in Canada remains safe. Every day blood products are needed for patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatments, and to save lives following traumas such as motor vehicle accidents.” Pop-up clinics haven’t been running, and donation clinics can’t take walk-ins like the used to, but Canadian Blood Services wants people to know that the need is still very real, and your help would be very appreciated.

So on this special bonus edition of the podcast, we are joined by Kersten Dupuis, the Territory Manager at the Guelph clinic of Canadian Blood Services. She will share her personal about the importance of blood donation, and how it inspires her to promote blood donation at her job every day. She will also  explain what the experience of giving blood is like now, the process you’ll have to go through, and why there’s a lot of pressure to get blood donations over the holidays.

Let’s talk about why you should roll up your sleeve this holiday season on this edition of the Guelph Politicast!

Canadian Blood Services in their Guelph location at 130 Silvercreek Parkway North is open during the holidays despite the lockdown that’s now in effect, but you do have to make an appointment to donate. To find out how, visit their website, or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

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