The organization responsible for blood collection and management in Quebec looks primarily for donors with O + and especially O- blood types.
The O group is the most sought after for its rarity, but also for its great versatility.
Only about 7% of Quebecers have type O- blood, while 39% are type O +.
called universal donors
people whose blood is type O- can donate blood to anyone, regardless of their blood type.
This blood type is often used in emergency care in hospitals for patients whose blood group is unknown.
The minimum donation threshold is no longer reached
But regardless of their blood type, anyone who can donate blood is encouraged to do so.
According to Héma-Québec, approximately 1,000 blood donations are required every day to meet the needs of Quebec hospitals. However, this daily number is not currently reached, the organization warns.
Last July, Héma-Québec had to launch a similar appeal to the blood donors of the province who, it must be remembered, donate their blood for free in Quebec.
It is not only in Quebec that blood banks are under pressure. Blood supply problems are also reported in several countries, including France and the United States.
In the UK, we even had to launch the equivalent of an Amber Alert last week to alert the population of an unprecedented blood shortage. Non-emergency surgeries had even had to be postponed in hospitals to protect British blood banks.
