Local first responders get behind blood drive
A teenage boy sits in the front passenger seat of a silver Oldsmobile Alero, feigning unconsciousness in a mock accident on Wednesday morning.
Sirens get louder as a trio of emergency vehicles travel west down Broadway Avenue toward the Regina Canadian Blood Services office, where the car is parked on a corner curb.
Four firefighters arrive and immediately set up the Jaws of Life, the metal crunching as they pry off the passenger door. It lands with a thud.
Two emergency medical technicians brace the boy’s neck before loading him onto a stretcher and into the ambulance.
Two police officers control traffic and protect the scene.
“This mock event was very true to life. It happens every day,” said Cory Brossart, paramedic manager of operations.
“As first responders, we do see the emergencies that happen that require blood and it’s very important, so we want to support that,” said Regina fire Chief Layne Jackson.
They are doing so in an annual friendly competition, Sirens for Life, which runs Wednesday through March 10.
They are encouraging the general public to join them in donating.
“These people are out in the field, working hard every day, and they see first-hand the need for blood and for blood products, in particular our O -negative blood, which is the universal donor,” said Katherine Wasylynka, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services.
One trauma victim can use up to 50 units of blood, she said, which means donations from 50 individuals.
“Your blood comes out fast, it needs to be replaced, and every minute of every day someone does need blood,” said Wasylynka.
“It’s not just trauma, but cancer patients use eight units a week, hip replacement can require two to four, so blood’s needed all the time. But today was a good example of how quickly our stock can get depleted.”
Book an appointment to donate at blood.ca, or through the Give Blood app, or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE, or walking in during clinic hours (in Regina, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon).