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Calgary emergency responders donated blood this morning as part of the Sirens for Life campaign, an annual friendly competition that challenges emergency medical services, police and fire departments in Calgary and Edmonton to donate the most units of blood.

Blood recipient Augusta Toews and her mother Leslie Baker-Toews were on hand to emphasize the importance of donation from a personal standpoint—Augusta was seven when she nearly lost her life in a serious boating accident.

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“It doesn’t matter how good EMS or anyone else is. If there’s no blood they can’t keep people alive,” said Baker-Toews. “Augusta wouldn’t be here without Canadians that donated.”

The child lost 3.5 times her blood volume during the 2014 ordeal and survived thanks to the donations of an estimated 100 Canadians.

“You just hope it’s never your family that needs the donation, but boy are you thankful that others give when it is your family.”