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Canadian Blood Services
Category: Health and Medical Health and Medical [Edit]
4750 Oak StVancouver, BC V6H 2N9
Neighbourhoods: Shaughnessy, South Cambie
(888) 236-6283
- By Appointment Only:
- No
9 reviews for Canadian Blood Services
9 reviews in English
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Review from Brian S.
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Just before they stuck the needle into my arm to start my donation I asked the Tech/Nurse who donates/gives blood theses days? She said younger people donate. I wondered out loud if was because of popularly of the Vampire / Zombie movies, She played it straight and told she really didn't know. She was really being kind to help me keep my mind off the business at hand. Canadian Blood Services treats you with respect as you make the voluntarily decision to donate blood. The whole process form start to finish took about 1 hour.
All and All really didn't noticed any major differences riding my bicycle around town today after my donation. Donating Blood is choice that only you can make but if you make that choice others will benefitListed in: Public Services We Use & Pay…
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Review from Larry L.
Updated - 4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's for a good cause, we had a Yelp UYE with some Yelpers who came down to donate blood. Unfortunately, my BP was just over 100 @ 103 and this seems to be consistent regardless if I'm on meds or not.......hmmmmmmm need more exercise......
Don't worry, I'll be back, I shall return to do the right thing!
The staff were all very friendly and helpfull. Even though this was my second attempt, it was still a bit nerve racking and after hearing about that big needle, I'm kinda glad I didn't pass. I hate needles and this coming from a diabetic. I will give it another attempt in a few months.
I shall return and I shall prevail!
** Booking an appointment online certainly makes it easier.
You can do so at this site below.
https://donatenow.bloo...Listed in: UYE = Unnoficial Yelp Events, The Underdog List for April…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/25/2012
Yes, I'm a fan, I had a friend who worked here once. Maybe she still does? It's been that long… Read more »
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Review from Martina M.
Vancouver, BC
9/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After years of being petrified of needles, I decided to finally conquer my fear and donate blood. My boyfriend (an avid blood donor) came with me. We booked appointments together in the morning, but Canadian Blood services takes walk-ins as well.
When you first get to the clinic, you check in with the receptionist who assigns you a number and gives you a brochure you MUST read about donating blood, HIV, and what happens afterwards. Before donating, it is highly recommend that you drink plenty of water the day before, and in the morning before you go to donate. It is also recommended that you have a good breakfast. I was super nervous the day of and forgot to drink water before we left, so I had to go to the refreshment area and drink water first before I went to the next step.
Next, you get called up to a desk and have your hemoglobin levels checked. This was the step I was most nervous about, and I actually started crying. The nurse was really friendly about it, gave me tissues, and waited until I calmed down before poking my finger. I will honestly say this hurt way more than the actual needle insertion. My iron levels were really good, so I got to go on to the next step.
Next, you fill out the first half of a questionnaire that asks questions about your health, travel, drug, and sexual history. After, a nurse calls you into a private office to check your temperature, blood pressure, weight, and to ask you questions on the second half of the questionnaire, which include more personal questions. As a side note, if you weigh less than 110 pounds you are ineligible for blood donation.
Next, you are taken to a lounge area given a basket containing all of the supplies needed for the donation. Once you are called to the chair, your arm is cleaned, a blood pressure cuff is placed on your arm, and the needle is inserted. This step is relatively painless (especially compared to the initial finger poke). I mentioned to the nurse that I really don't like needles, so she covered my arm with a cloth so I wouldn't have to look at it. I was also given a blanket and a glove filled with warm water to hold in my hand since I was cold. Since I was a first time donor, nurses kept coming up to me to ask if I was doing okay. The nurse I cried in front of also came up to check on me! The nurses were also very happy to answer all of my questions (and since I was nervous I had a lot).
My donation took about 14 minutes. After the needle is removed, you have to stay in the chair for 5 minutes and apply pressure to the needle site. After that 5 minutes is done, you get juice and cookies! They have a wide variety of cookies, and you can also get gluten free ones. If you're a coffee drinker, they offer a lot of specialty coffee drinks. You can stay in the refreshment area as long as you want (I think 15 minutes is recommended). Since it was my first time donating, I got a pin! You also get pins once you hit other milestones, such as 25x, 50x and 400-500x (that's so much blood!).
Overall, even though I was petrified, my experience at Canadian Blood Services was great. The nurses are all very friendly and considerate. If you can, donate! Just think of all of the people who will benefit from your kind donation :) -
Review from Jenni B.
10/3/2010 ROTD 3/26/2011
*** Give us yer bloooood! ***
As a first time donor, I was a little nervous going in for donation yesterday. Fun fact: you get a First Time Donor sticker so you get extra special treatment your first time.
So you know what to expect: First you read a brochure about blood donation, HIV, and after donation. You must read it. Then you shuttled off to your first check point, for anemia. The finger poke was my least favorite part of this visit. You get a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire is posted on the Blood Services website so no surprises.
Tick, tick, tick, then your second checkpoint where a friendly staff member reviews your questionnaire to verify your eligibility to donate. The lady who chatted with me was amazing. She was friendly, put me at ease and in good humor. Some of my travel was a concern, mostly my recent trip to Egypt, so she brought in an atlas so I could point on the map to everywhere I went. Luckily I did not visit the one region which would disqualify me. Then she went through the HIV risk questions with me.
I thought it was interesting at the end of the interview you are left to put a Yes or No barcode sticker on your form. This is done in case you if have engaged in any "at risk" activities and your blood should not be used but you don't want to tell anyone. Either way you still give blood, but if you use the No sticker your blood will not be used for transfution (it will still be tested).
Then off to the donation chair. I'm not afraid of needles. I was there with Emma and Reena and Emma had already done her donation (that speedy girl!). The poke itself wasn't bad, but do know it's a big needle. You don't have to look at it. I did look at my set up and asked questions because I like being informed and everything was explained to me which put me at ease. I bruise VERY easily so I did begin bruising within minutes of the needle being placed (yay to having to explain that for the next few days). My donation took exactly 8m 45s. The nurse who had hooked Reena up told me she was going faster than me. I'm competitive. "how do I bleed faster??"
I was strapped with ice after I was done to control bruising and given juice. My lady showed me my bag-o-blood (wow it's a lot!) and made me feel it (okay creepy). I brought GF cookies but we did learn they usually have gluten free snacks on hand, you just need to ask. There was no pressure to leave before you felt ready and everyone was just great. I also appreciated the card and sticker we were all given after as first time donors and congradulated.
I had wanted to do this for a long time but had put it off as I have fainted after blood tests, I felt fine after donating. A little tired, but no passing out. My arm bruise is dark but not very big and I was given little icebags to use on it for the remainer of the day.
I will definately be making regular donations from now on. Dang it there are zipper pulls to be had!
Tips for first time donors: wear short sleeves or a tank top. Go with friends or Yelpers to make the experience more fun! Drink LOTS of water prior, and if you're a coffee drinker caffinate prior as you can't have hot drinks for an hour after. If you're squeamish with needles or blood, or just nervous, just tell them they are very accomodating. It's really easy, they make it as comfortable as possible, and if a few minutes of a needle in your arm can help someone. Oh, and the chair at the end gives you visual to a television which can be a good distraction :) -
Review from Kat S.
1/22/2011
The staff and volunteers here are really what make Canadian Blood Services 5 stars. They are amazing.
I seem to be one of those people that gets weak and pale and queasy when giving blood, so they take extra good care of me while I am there. They really don't want me to faint, I guess. Not sure why I get that way, since I'm not really concerned by blood or needles. I feel bad for taking up extra time and more staff resources, but they don't seem to mind. They are super sweet and caring and will not let me move until they are sure I am okay to get up.
The cookie and drinks volunteers are adorable and will keep giving you juice and snacks as long as you want to stay. Everyone there is so positive, because I think they know they are all making a difference. I love it. Such a welcoming feeling there.
One day I hope to be like those pro donators that can just sit calmly and read a book like nothing is happening at all. Maybe one day my body will stop freaking out like there is something wrong. -
Review from Emma L.
10/2/2010 8 Check-ins Here
My first time donating blood, and it went incredibly well! The phlebotomists (best job name ever) were super friendly and really sweet considering how nervous we were. Everything went smoothly and my actual donation only took 7 minutes! Crazy!
They had a wide range of cookies and juice afterwards, including yummy mango juice. Apparently they usually have gluten-free cookies too -- just ask a volunteer! Unfortunately, they were out today, but they ordered more so I'll be able to have them when I go back in two months!Listed in: Great eats, gluten-free
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Review from Reena M.
Also a first time donor, and I was totally freaking out in that chair but trying not to show it (don't think I did the best job though, since they kept asking if I was okay). I really don't like to see the needle and all that stuff in me so once they inserted, they even covered my arm up so I didn't have to see it. And one of the phlebotomists even sat with me for a while and chatted with me to keep me company, so I wouldn't freak out too much. At some point my fingers were getting cold so the phlebotomist filled up a glove with warm water for me to hold.
Before you actually give your blood, they ask TONNNNNNNNEESS of questions, and really personal ones at that. So just be prepared for that. Like if you've ever slept with a man who has slept with another man, or if you've slept with a man from Africa, or paid for sex... just to name a few.
The cookies and juice were fun because they're the most hyped up part of the whole experience!
And the cool thing is that they have prizes for the number of times you donate: the first time you get a thank you card; third time a zipper pull; 10th time a pin... and it goes up from there. Maybe on your 100000000th, they'll give you a car? :-DListed in: Yelpage, Taking Care of Myself, Staying Active
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Review from Lisa C.
Vancouver, BC
2/12/2011
If you're eligible, go donate! So many people need your help & it's really not difficult. You might even have fun!
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It'd been a few years since I'd donated, then I had to wait while I was pregnant. Now that my son is six months old, I'm eligible again, so I made an appointment at the Oak Street centre.
After the usual ID check, I got my questionnaire & headed to the next station to have my hemoglobin levels checked. (If you're below 125, you're not eligible to donate) They've changed the little lancets they use since I last donated & it was painless to get the finger prick.
Next up was going over the questionnaire about potential risk factors, which has lots of personal questions about sexual history, drug use, travel & so on. I recommend checking their website to make sure you're not going to be excluded before you make your appointment.
After that, I moved over to a lounge area & was handed a plastic basket with all my donation gear: stickers, the bag & tubes, etc. One of the staff called my name after a brief wait & I sat down on one of the comfy recliner chairs. A blood pressure cuff went on, then a bit of swabbing to clean my arm & the needle was inserted. All quick & nearly painless. I didn't keep track of the time, but I think I was finished in about ten or fifteen minutes. On to the cookies!
At this point my body realized it'd been a bit too long since I'd last eaten, plus I hadn't had too much to drink yet that day, so I fainted. I was sitting at the table & just put my head down on it--nothing too dramatic. The staff were all very calm & professional. Seconds later I came to, got onto a stretcher & laid down for a bit, with a nurse at my side for the whole time. She checked my blood pressure & pulse several times, kept cool compresses on my neck & arms. She was very nice & we chatted as I started to feel better.
Once I felt well enough to get up & go (after some juice & cookies, of course!), CBS called (& paid for) a taxi to get me home.
All the staff at each step of the way are very friendly & appreciative that you've volunteered to donate, making the whole experience very positive. Despite fainting, I'll definitely donate again. I know too many people who've benefitted from blood transfusions--without donors, some of them might not be alive today. I'll just remember to eat & drink really well before I go next time. :) -
Review from Karen R.
So when you choose to donate know that it's a slow and lengthy appointment that can take up to 90 minutes. First you should have made an appointment because they don't always have time for drop-in's. Then show up to your appointment on time with identification and/or your donation card to which you'll be given a tall red sleeve, a form, a number and a paper appointment card with your name written on it. Then you wait until your number is called. Once that happens you goto desk #2 where they confirm your address etc, poke your finger to test iron levels in your blood an then send you off to area #3 to complete questions 1-13 on your own. Once done those questions you put the appointment card in the card area for your name to be called. Then you wait for area #4 (screening) and when your called you go into a room and answer the remaining questions on the form and the get your temperature and heart rate readings taken. The consultant leaves the room for your final chance to stick the yes or no barcode sticker on your form, tossing out the alternate barcode. The consultant returns and you sign and date the form then proceed to waiting area #5 with your blood collection basket and paperwork sleeve. Your appointment card is once again placed in cue and then continue waiting until called for the donation chair (area #6). Once called by name you area seated in the comfy chair and poked with the blood collection needle. The bag is placed on a rocking device and you stay there til it full. Once done you finally stop over in area #7 to rehydrate/re-sugar with cookies/drinks. It's at this stage that your donor card is updated. And that's what happens.
