Assiniboia welcomes Weyburn Red Wings with open arms during ammonia shutdown
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Billets were found for all Red Wings players in just four hours.
For years Carrie Derin was the one working at Canadian Blood Services, keeping the country’s blood supply safe and urging people to give.
But in August 2012, Derin was in a quadding accident in Moose Mountain Provincial Park, suffering gruesome injuries.
A fallen poplar tree had pierced Derin’s abdomen and impaled her against her seat. She had a lacerated liver, damaged diaphragm and shattered ribs.
Blood donations saved her life, administered by the medical crew on a STARS flight.
On Monday, Derin shared her story at the Regina airport, during Canadian Blood Services’ Sirens for Life campaign launch.
“It’s just very important that people continue to donate and realize the significance they have and how many lives they’ve touched along the way,” Derin said.
“People don’t realize it is an easy thing to do. Most people can donate and most people can give back. It’s a renewable resource that we can all tap into.”
Sirens for Life is a month-long challenge from February to March between emergency workers to raise blood donations and recruit new donors.
Police, fire, EMS and STARS are all participating and the goal is 350 blood units and 30 new donors.
“These people are out saving lives in those emergency situations. Beyond that, coming down and contributing to Canada’s national blood system, it’s important,” said Aaron Barlow, territory manager for CBS.
Barlow said they are especially looking for O-negative blood, which is carried onboard STARS helicopters because it can be transfused into anybody regardless of blood type.
Good to have because anybody could end up needing it.
“I think we’re all naive to think nothing bad is ever going to happen,” Derin said.