A call for arms

Members of the North Bay Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, North Bay Fire Department, and North Bay & District Ambulance Service rolled up their sleeves and launched their inaugural ‘Sirens for Life’ campaign at the Elks Club in North Bay Wednesday afternoon.

Because Front line Emergency Services personnel witness firsthand the need for blood when responding to the emergencies they encounter everyday in the course of their duties, and so the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) called on emergency workers to set an example for the whole community and give the gift of life.

The campaign pits local emergency departments against each other in an effort to recruit their respective members (as well as family members and friends) to donate blood for bragging rights and the title of Sirens for Life champions. And for the first time the challenge, which started in the summer of 2000 in Sudbury, the competition expand to a friendly competition between Northern Ontario Emergency Services workers for the title of Northern Ontario City champs.

Moved by the effort put forth by the emergency workers, 20 employees from Wal-Mart North Bay stopped by to give the gift of life.

CBS says on average someone in Canada, every minute of every day, requires blood.

The challenge continues Thursday at the Elks Lodge and has already been started in Sudbury, Timmins and the Sault.


One donation can save three lives and CBS says the true winners of the campaign will be the recipients of blood products.

To set up your appointment to donate call the Canadian Blood Services at 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283).