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7 · Friday, July 13, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Your parents helped you cross the street safely, learn to ride a bike and drive a car NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog SIRENS FOR LIFE: Phlebotomist Rommel Aunarao attends to Primary-Care Paramedic Samantha Comeau-Seguin as she gives blood for the 25th time with the support of Const. Brenda Fraser during the Sirens for Life blood donor campaign at the Halton Police headquarters yesterday. By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Campaign to save lives A Halton primary-care paramedic helped save lives in a different way than usual Thursday, by donating blood for the 25th time. Samantha Comeau-Seguin's latest donation, which took place at the Halton Region auditorium, was part of the kickoff for Sirens for Life -- a blood donor campaign that sees police, fire and paramedic services take each other on to see who can donate the most blood. The Central Ontario-wide competition runs until Sept. 3, with a goal of collecting 1,100 units of blood and increasing the number of young male, ethnically diverse registrants on the One Match Stem Cell Marrow Network. Comeau-Seguin attended the blood donor clinic on her day off and, after undergoing a quick test to make sure she had enough iron in her system to donate, got into a donor chair and donated 500 millilitres of blood. "It was good. It didn't really hurt and I feel good to be able to give again," she said. "You can give every 56 days and in those 56 days there are going to be so many people who need your blood." Comeau-Seguin said as a paramedic she comes face to face with people who have been in accidents or have other health problems where they require donated blood to survive. Seeing their faces and knowing her blood will help people just like them keeps her coming back and donating, she said. The fact Comeau-Seguin's blood is O-, meaning anyone can receive it, assures her that her blood will be used and probably fairly quickly. Comeau-Seguin said her first blood donation took place when she was just 17 years old and in high school. "I did it to get out of class, but it made me feel good to know I could affect someone's life and possibly save their life," she said. "I've always been the kind of person who has wanted to help people, to go above and beyond, to volunteer my time to help others whether that be through fundraising or donating my bodily fluids." This desire to help people eventually led Comeau-Seguin to leave her job in accounting and settle on her career as a paramedic. "I don't want to do anything else," she said. "It's amazing. It's the best job for me." Acting Halton Police Chief Andrew Fletcher said the Sirens for Life campaign is important as it raises awareness and participation in blood donation. Canadian Blood Services Community Development Co-ordinator Josie DeLeon said the campaign is needed because many people go on vacation during the summer and as such blood donations go down. This can be a problem since the accidents and health problems that require blood donations keep coming. "The need for blood doesn't take a summer vacation, and paramedics, fire and police workers may know this more than most. That's one of the reasons these first responders are rallying together and rolling up their sleeves," said DeLeon. "They are on the frontline everyday and know lives can change in an instant. Anyone can need blood at anytime. It can take 50 units of blood to save someone who has been See Need page 10 Now they need you to help them make the right decision If conversations have begun to explore the topic of retirement you navigate the decision-making process and help you decide on the best option. Chartwell Classic's Blues BBQ in Support of the Canadian Diabetes Association Date: July 31st Time: 11am - 2:30pm Special performance by "Subourbon St." (12 - 2pm). Guest speaker from the Canadian Diabetes Association. Wear blue to show your support!! SPECIAL EVENT RETIREMENT RESIDENCE 905-257-0095 · www.chartwellreit.ca 180 Oak Park Blvd., Oakville Making People's Lives Better