'There is a real need for blood': Emergency responders launch blood donation challenge
'There is a real need for blood': Emergency responders launch blood donation challenge
Emergency service workers in the Region of Waterloo kicked off a friendly competition Friday to see which team can donate the most blood by Labour Day.
The annual Sirens for Life challenge for Canadian Blood Services runs until Sept. 5. Regional and provincial police are taking part, along with corrections officers, paramedics and firefighters.
According to Canadian Blood Services, every 60 seconds someone in the country needs blood. It could take up to 50 donors to help a crash victim and between two to eight donors for someone with internal injuries.
The agency predicts the need for donors will increase through the summer.
"Now, obviously, everybody is out and about so blood donation is not top of mind," said Gina Leyva, a community development coordinator with Canadian Blood Services. "As an organization we are really urging and hoping that Canadians will step up and donate blood."
"Over the summer there is a real need for blood donations, not only because people go on vacation, but there is a higher incidence of trauma-related calls where people and their families may require blood donations,” Richard Hepditch, the fire chief for the City of Waterloo, said.
Const. Lee Elliot with the Waterloo Regional Police Service donated blood for the 16th time on Friday.
"I’ve had some experiences myself where I required some emergency surgeries, so I was receiving blood donations," he said. "I just understand the importance of it."
Const. Elliot said another reason he keeps donating is because he's had family and friends who have also needed emergency blood.
"Just trying to encourage it when I can, and donate whenever I’m able," he said.
"Having Lee being able to speak to his personal experiences, and then share that not only with the members of our service but also the members of our community, is incredibly valuable," said Sgt. Jay MacSween, with the Waterloo Regional Police Service. "He can really speak to it from a personal perspective."
The challenge runs from July 1 to Sept. 5.
Anyone unable to donate blood can make a financial donation or volunteer with Canadian Blood Services.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
Trump says he took the Fifth in New York civil investigation
Donald Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as he testified under oath Wednesday in the New York attorney general's long-running civil investigation into his business dealings, the former U.S. president said in a statement.
Some air passengers take claims to court, seeking compensation for delays, missing bags
With some airlines denying compensation for delayed flights or missing baggage, a few Canadian passengers are taking their claims to court.
Donald Trump 'took the Fifth.' What does it actually mean?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump showed up Wednesday for questioning under oath in New York's civil investigation into his business practices. But he quickly made clear he wouldn't be answering.
Video shows man being savagely attacked outside Brampton, Ont. home
A Brampton man is in stable condition after he was viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
Two children at centre of Sask. Amber Alert found safe in South Dakota, suspect arrested
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota said it has arrested the man wanted in connection with an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.
Watch as a small plane crash-lands on a California freeway; no injuries
The pilot and passenger aboard a single-engine plane survived a dramatic crash-landing on a California freeway, in video captured on a dashcam.
Plastics producers ask court to quash planned federal ban on single-use straws, cups
More than two dozen plastic makers are asking the Federal Court to put an end to Ottawa's plan to ban several single-use plastic items including straws, cutlery and takeout containers.
Ottawa woman missing for 42 years had been living outside Canada before her death
The disappearance of an Ottawa woman has been solved more than 40 years after she went missing. While she has since passed away, it's been revealed she's been living outside the country for decades.
London
-
London police chief acknowledges mistakes were made in arrest of doxed transgender activist, Twitch streamer
London police are speaking out Wednesday in relation to a transgender activist and Twitch streamer who claims she was the victim of swatting by police, specifically in relation to the woman being misgendered while in police custody.
-
Search and rescue underway for boater missing in Port Burwell
A search and rescue operation is underway for a boater who went missing on Lake Erie off the coast of Port Burwell on Tuesday.
-
'A man of the people': Goderich mourns passing of Mayor John Grace
Tributes are pouring in for Goderich Mayor John Grace, who passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday.
Windsor
-
Assault victim allegedly stabbed multiple times after opening apartment door: Windsor police
A random attacker allegedly sprayed a victim with an unknown noxious substance and stabbed them multiple times when they answered the front door, Windsor police are investigating.
-
Hundreds of charges laid after Ontario police bust group accused of smuggling guns, fentanyl
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 criminal charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
-
ESHC warns of increase in COVID-19 cases as hospital is over 122% capacity
Erie Shores HealthCare is urging people to remain cautious as COVID cases spike in Windsor-Essex and the hospital is already at 122 per cent occupancy.
Barrie
-
Public help Barrie Police arrest theft suspects
Barrie Police arrested two suspects accused of theft, thanks to help from the public.
-
Aurora seniors set to walk 90 kilometres to support the food bank
A retired couple is set to make a 90-kilometre trek to help feed those in need to mark a milestone birthday.
-
Painswick park picked for pickleball pads
There’s a new game in town, and city staff are counting on eight fingers how many new pickleball courts they’ll need to meet the demand.
Northern Ontario
-
Human rights tribunal dismisses northern Ont. man's complaint about pronoun use
In what appears to be a less-than-serious complaint, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has dismissed a complaint levied against the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit related to pronoun use.
-
Timmins police charge young person with assault
A 12-year-old in Timmins has been charged with assault following an incident Tuesday evening at a Park Avenue schoolyard.
-
Video shows man being savagely attacked outside Brampton, Ont. home
A Brampton man is in stable condition after he was viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa woman missing for 42 years had been living outside Canada before her death
The disappearance of an Ottawa woman has been solved more than 40 years after she went missing. While she has since passed away, it's been revealed she's been living outside the country for decades.
-
These are the most stolen vehicles in Ottawa so far in 2022
Ottawa police say 493 vehicle thefts have been reported so far in 2022, with the Honda CRV the most popular target for thieves.
-
Toronto and Ottawa mayors could draft budget, hire and fire department heads under new legislation
The mayors of Toronto and Ottawa will be granted sweeping new powers which will give them sole responsibility for preparing the municipal budget for council approval as well the ability to hire and fire department heads as they see fit and veto some decisions made by councillors.
Toronto
-
Video shows man being savagely attacked outside Brampton, Ont. home
A Brampton man is in stable condition after he was viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
-
Hundreds of charges laid after Ontario police bust group accused of smuggling guns, fentanyl
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 criminal charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
-
These are the new powers Doug Ford wants to give the mayor of Toronto
Here's a rundown of some of the changes Doug Ford's government is proposing for the mayor’s office.
Montreal
-
Religious minorities feel less safe, welcome in Quebec since Bill 21 was adopted: survey
A new study shows that religious minorities in Quebec, particularly women, feel less safe and less welcome in the social fabric of society since the adoption of the province's secularism law, commonly known as Bill 21.
-
Remains of priest removed from Kahnawake church grounds
The remains of a priest who allegedly sexually abused Indigenous children in Quebec was exhumed Wednesday morning. Jesuit priest Father Leon Lajoie was buried on the grounds of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kahnawake in 1999.
-
Montreal public health investigating 3 cases of Legionnaire's disease
Montreal public health officials are investigating three cases of Legionnaire's disease, including one death.
Atlantic
-
Essential Newfoundland highway to stay open as out-of-control wildfires grow
Two out-of-control wildfires in central Newfoundland covered more than 200 square kilometres on Wednesday morning, and Environment Canada warned the flames could cover much of the island in smoke.
-
Former CEO of IWK Health Centre sentenced to 5 months in jail for fraud
The former CEO of the IWK Health Centre has been sentenced to five months in jail for using public money to pay for more than $45,000 worth of personal expenses.
-
N.S. boosts cash reward for information in boy's shooting death to $250,000
Nova Scotia’s unsolved crimes program is offering its largest reward ever for information in the case of a little boy shot and killed in Dartmouth in December.
Winnipeg
-
Police make arrest in connection to River East weekend shooting
Winnipeg police arrested and charged a 34-year-old man in connection to a shooting on Bonner Avenue Sunday morning.
-
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
-
73-year-old injured in St. Clements home invasion: RCMP
A Winnipeg man faces numerous charges after a home invasion Saturday that injured a 73-year-old woman.
Calgary
-
Vehicle in downtown hit-and-run that injured pedestrian found, driver still sought
The pedestrian, a woman in her 20s, was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
-
Two children at centre of Sask. Amber Alert found safe in South Dakota, suspect arrested
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota said it has arrested the man wanted in connection with an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.
-
Court appearance put over for man accused in deadly Banff bar dispute
The man accused of killing a 26-year-old Banff man last week is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Edmonton
-
Valley Line Southeast LRT delayed again after cracks discovered on piers
The Valley Line Southeast LRT will not open this summer as planned.
-
Indigenous theatre space to be integrated within 2022 Fringe Festival
A teepee was raised at the Fringe Festival grounds on Thursday morning to kick off the Indeginous theatre space, pêhonân.
-
'A win, win, win': Massive addition to proposed gondola plan pitched to councillors
If Edmonton does go ahead with a new gondola over the North Saskatchewan River, a local businessman has a grand idea for what to surround it with on the southern edge of the valley.
Vancouver
-
Vancouver-area renters: Here's where it's cheapest, and where you'd pay the most
It's no surprise to renters and would-be renters that it costs a lot to live in the Vancouver area, but a recent report suggests there are some spots where tenants pay a bit less.
-
Some evacuation orders lifted near Keremeos, B.C., wildfire
Evacuation orders were lifted for about 50 properties near a wildfire in Keremeos, B.C., as crews expect to see subdued conditions over the coming days.
-
Driver caught doing more than twice the speed limit near park ticketed, has car impounded
A driver who was caught doing more than twice the speed limit near a Burnaby park had his vehicle impounded and is facing hundreds of dollars in fines.