First responders roll up their sleeves in friendly competition

The annual campaign that sees emergency workers roll up their sleeves to encourage others to do so.

The region’s first responders took part in a friendly competition for a good cause on Tuesday.

The Sirens for Life challenge invites emergency workers to give blood and encourage others to do the same, in advance of National Blood Donor Week kicking off on Sunday.

“Summer is so difficult for us to recruit and have donors come in,” said Cheryl Russell, business development manager with Canadian Blood Services. “And it’s simply because it’s beautiful outside. Everyone has family plans and vacations and weekends at the cottage.”

It’s campaigns like these that help to increase the blood donor numbers in those lighter months.

The friendly competition sees which emergency service can donate the most blood.

The City of Barrie launched the annual campaign at Barrie’s Canadian Blood Services on Bayview Drive with members of Barrie City Council including Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall and Councillor Craig Nixon.

“Seeing them be able to now get involved and give back, not just saving the life on the scene, but also helps save that life through donation of blood,” said Nuttall.

The first responders that took part were Barrie Police Service, Barrie Fire and Emergency Service, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, Town of Innisfil Fire, South Simcoe Police, and OPP Orillia.

“We’re very much a team – I mean, police, fire, paramedics. We see it first-hand and see the importance of it,” Barrie Police Deputy Chief Rob Burke said.

O positive is the most in-demand blood type as it can help any patient with a positive blood type.