Sirens for Life blood donor challenge hits Cornwall

A bloody battle with a life-saving goal - police, fire and paramedic services are rallying behind this year’s Sirens for Life. The goal is to collect 125 units of blood in the Ottawa Region. The blood donor clinic will be held on July 6th at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall.

PHOTO CREDIT - Canadian Blood Services

Cornwall - Jul. 5, 2011 - A bloody battle with a life-saving goal - police, fire and paramedic services are rallying behind this year's Sirens for Life. In partnership with Canadian Blood Services, the emergency services blood donor challenge runs from July 1 to Sept. 5 as the three branches compete to donate the most blood. Although the competition for bragging rights is friendly; every police officer, firefighter and EMS worker knows the importance of blood.

For this year's Canadian Blood Services' Sirens for Life blood donor challenge, the goal is to collect 125 units of blood in the Ottawa Region. "Fire, police, and emergency medical services employees are on the frontline everyday and know lives can change in an instant," says Carolyn Boucher, Community Development Coordinator at Canadian Blood Services. "They also know that it takes far more blood than most realize to help save a life. It can require 50 units of blood to save someone who has been in a car accident. That equates to 50 donors who came in to donate."

The need for blood doesn't take a summer vacation and police, fire and EMS workers know this more than most. That's one of the reasons the workers of each branch are rallying together and rolling up their sleeves to donate the most blood for their community - because anyone can need blood at anytime.

Who: Cornwall Fire Service, Cornwall EMS, Cornwall Police Service and Canadian Blood Services

What: Sirens for Life kick-off event: A representative from Police, Fire and EMS will be on hand for interviews and donate blood during the clinic.

Where: Ramada Inn and Convention Centre, 805 Brookdale Ave., Cornwall (Simon Fraser Room)

When: Wednesday July 6th, 2011 from 12:00p.m. to 3:30p.m. and 5:00p.m. to 7:30p.m.