(L-R) Red Deer Fire Chief Ken McMullen and Heidi Ravenhill, RCMP Operations Support Officer donating blood at the Red Deer Donor Canadian Blood Services Centre on Wednesday. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Alessia Proietti and Sheldon Spackman

Sirens for Life Alberta Challenge

Red Deer’s first responders compete against Calgary and Edmonton for most blood donations

Jan 4, 2024 | 4:09 PM

Red Deer’s first responders will be battling against their colleagues in Calgary and Edmonton to see who can save more lives through blood donations this month.

The Sirens for Life Alberta Challenge, running throughout the month of January, is in its 24^th year, according to Canadian Blood Services Community Development Manager Shamus Neeson.

“Things are getting colder outside but I know for a fact that once people donate blood and realize that they are changing lives right here, right now, that their hearts will be filled with warmth for what they’re doing,” he said. The Canadian Blood Services says during this time of year, many cancel appointments due to weather, illness, or the holidays.

Members of the Red Deer RCMP and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), including paramedics and firefighters, gathered at the Red Deer Donor Centre (5-5020 68 St.) on Wednesday to roll up their sleeves for the campaign’s kickoff.

Not only will the two departments be competing to see who can collect the most blood donations, but the province’s three largest cities will also be competing against each other.

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“We see the need and the benefit of the blood products from donors previous, to supply and help the patients we deal with on a regular basis. It’s important and it feels good to be a part of that and support that,” said Curtis Schaefer, Acting Deputy Chief- Operation for the RDES.

(L-R) Red Deer Deputy Fire Chief Tyler Pelke and Curtis Schaefer, Acting Deputy Chief- Operation for the RDES, donating blood at the Red Deer Donor Canadian Blood Services Centre on Wednesday. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

With Calgary winning last year’s title, the goal this year for Red Deer is to collect over 1,200 blood donations and attract 86 new donors.

Neeson said as the Canadian Blood Services continues to evolve through research and testing, citizens should check their website for changes in eligibility criteria.

One of the most recent changes relates to the ‘mad cow’ disease outbreak. Formerly, those who lived for more than three months between 1980 and 1996 in countries affected by the disease, namely the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and France, were not allowed to donate. However, as of December 2023, many are now eligible.

In 2022, this restriction was also lifted for those who lived in the Netherlands, impacting greatly the Lacombe community’s large Dutch population, Neeson added.

He says while 50 per cent of Canadians still cannot donate blood for other reasons, only one in 81 remaining Canadians currently give blood.

“We’re looking to change those numbers because when you do the math, that’s less than two per cent of Canadians that donate blood but 100 per cent of Canadians expect to get blood when they need it,” said Neeson.

Red Deer Fire Chief Ken McMullen says he welcomes the friendly competition amongst departments for the good cause, as having blood in the system is “imperative” for patients and hospitals.

“We have a lot of fun razzing one another about who’s department’s going to get a little more of the donations in and out but at the end of the day, all kidding aside, it’s about making sure that we increase the bank of blood available to anybody that needs it in the worst of moments,” he said.

Heidi Ravenhill, RCMP Operations Support Officer, joked that their department is currently ahead in donations with the odds in their favor for winning as they have more members than EMS. She says Red Deer’s RCMP detachment is the largest in Alberta, with 175 officers and 110 municipal employees.

(L-R) Staff Sgt. Jon England and Sgt. Candice Hoysradt donating blood at the Red Deer Donor Canadian Blood Service Centre on Wednesday. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

Having donated for the past several years, she says it is just another opportunity to give back and be a part of the community.

“The campaign slogan is ‘it’s in me to give’ and why would I not if I’ve got so much to give?” she said.

The Red Deer Rebels also kicked off their Week to Save Lives campaign from January 3-6, with ambassador player and new blood donor Ollie Josephson. In prior years, the hockey team would have their own blood donation competition with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, however, their local clinic recently converted into a plasma clinic.

Dean Williams, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the Rebels, says the team thus created their own week-long campaign to continue encouraging Red Deerians to donate.

“I’ve been donating since I was in college, and I had done it because I had a friend that was in a car accident and needed a lot of blood,” he said.

At last week’s home game, the Rebels invited Penhold’s Josephine Michaluk, Guiness Book of World Records holder as the female with the most whole blood donated, for their puck drop.

READ: Penhold woman officially earns Guinness World Record for most blood donations

The Canadian Blood Services says O-negative blood type is always in high demand and low supply as it is a universal blood type that can be given to any patient, especially in an emergency when the patient’s blood type cannot be determined quickly.

The organization also encourages those between 17 and 35 years old to register as a potential stem cell donor as over 75 per cent of patients can’t find a match within their family, relying on volunteer donors.

Red Deerians can donate blood on behalf of either the RCMP or EMS by clicking the “partners” tab when booking an appointment online.

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