New plasma drive in Sudbury begins for the summer season
In Greater Sudbury on Thursday, a Sirens For Life event was held. This two-month long national event is a challenge between first responders to see who can donate the most plasma.
To kick off the challenge local police, fire services, paramedics and the North Shore search and rescue team rolled up their sleeves throughout the day to donate plasma.
“So, every time a donor comes to donate from (first responder) groups they’ll receive points, new donors are extra points, coming on a long weekend is extra points and at the end of the competition the team that collected the most plasma donations wins our cool inaugural plaque,” said Teri-Mai Armstrong, business development manager at Canadian Blood Services.
“With the pandemic like everywhere else, we saw a decline of donors, the lowest we’ve seen in 10 years. So, this is really important.”
During last year’s event, 375 plasma donations were collected and this year’s goal is 500. Armstrong said plasma donations are needed now more than ever.
“All of us with sirens are donating to save lives, so everyone wins. I’ve seen the real life stories of how we help people, I understand the need and it’s fun,” said chief Paul Pedersen, Greater Sudbury Police Services.
Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services won the challenge in 2021 and are hoping to do the same again this year.
“We got a lot of fresh faces with our service over the last year so we’re hoping we can just add a bunch more people to the team and get them donating,” said Dilyn Gilbert-Leduc, a primary care paramedic.
The Sirens For Life challenge will wrap up on Labour Day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.