Four years ago a Vancouver Island mansa国际传媒檚 life was saved by blood transfusion and now hesa国际传媒檚 calling on community members to donate blood this summer.

During the summer of 2019, Colin Dowler was mountain biking near Campbell River when he was attacked by a grizzly bear. He said the bear dragged him almost 15 metres and chewed on his torso and leg before it let go when he stabbed it with a small pocket knife.

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After managing to apply a tourniquet and biking seven kilometres with near-fatal injuries, he found a logging camp where he received first aid. He was given a blood transfusion through a sa国际传媒楤lood on Boardsa国际传媒� program while being airlifted to the hospital. He said he probably would have died if it werensa国际传媒檛 for the transfusion, and visited a blood donor clinic in Nanaimo to talk to people there.

sa国际传媒淗e was kept alive by the Blood on Board program thatsa国际传媒檚 part of the pre-hospital transfusion. If someone made a donation this summer, they could be saving a life like his,sa国际传媒� said Patricia Willms, Canadian Blood Services community development manager.

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According to a news release, half of Canadians are eligible to donate blood and plasma; however, only one in 81 citizens do so. Willms said a recent Ipsos survey showed 87 per cent of Canadians are aware of the constant need for blood but 50 per cent of those eligible havensa国际传媒檛 donated sa国际传媒渂ecause theysa国际传媒檙e waiting to be asked.sa国际传媒� She said there are thousands of open appointments across the country over the summer that need to be filled.

Dowler has since made a recovery since his accident through sa国际传媒淕od-awful monotonous physiotherapy.sa国际传媒� Just over a year after his attack, he completed a half marathon and started skiing, hiking and fishing again despite his doctors telling him he wasnsa国际传媒檛 going to walk normally again.

To donate blood, visit http:// or call 1-888-236-6283or the GiveBlood app.

bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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