The Canadian Blood Services donor base is at its lowest level in a decade, and the plea is being made to get people to roll up their sleeves and help those in urgent need of blood.

This is National Blood Donor Week, raising awareness about the need for blood, and blood products, especially during the busy summer months.

In St. John’s this month, there are still 141 blood donor appointments open.

The Canadian Blood Services says the number of people who donate regularly must be restored to pre-pandemic levels.