Donations urgently needed as weather causes blood shortage in N.S.
Posted Jan 30, 2026 10:35:26 AM.
Last Updated Jan 30, 2026 11:35:25 AM.
The Canadian Blood Services says Nova Scotia is running short on blood and plasma, partially due to bad weather in January, leading to fewer donations.
The agency says in the last week alone, it has seen 1,500 fewer donations than usual, and it believes the weather is playing a factor.
After two consecutive weekends leading to storms that closed schools, offices and created dangerous road conditions, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for this weekend, warning of a system expected to impact the province Sunday night into Monday, bringing snow and high winds.
The national forecaster says in general, the province could see 15 to 30 centimetres or more of snow and winds in the range of 60 to 80 km/h.
The Canadian Blood Services believes that could wind up leading to more cancelled appointments early next week.
After a slowdown during the holidays in late 2025, this month’s bad weather has made it difficult to maintain blood donation collection levels.
“It’s also been a tough cold and flu season,” says Krysta Hanakowski, with Canadian Blood Services. “All that kind of impacting means that we have seen way less donors than what we are comfortable with so (we’re) just hoping more people come out and donate.”
Hanakowski notes that 16 donation events were also called off this month due to the weather, leaving hospitals in short supply of blood and plasma.
The agency encourages Nova Scotians to visit the Canadian Blood Services clinic at Bayers Road on Friday or Saturday before Sunday’s storm rolls in.
