The race is on to rebuild the blood supply in Canada before patient care is impacted.

Over the last six weeks, national inventories have fallen by 20 per cent, an unusually fast pace, but officials are perplexed as to why.

Regardless, August is a time when hospitals can see a spike in demand and the August long weekend is upon us.

Canadian Blood Services is putting out an urgent call for donors.

Gord Skiffington, community development manager with the agency in Newfoundland and Labrador, says the number of appointments has fallen short by 1,500-2,500. That means that they have to draw on existing inventory to meet patient demand.

“We currently have limited days supply on hand for various blood types, which is not sustainable for patient care so we need donors of all blood types to make an appointment now to donate blood,” says Skiffington.