The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has conducted the Volunteers Association about the 2017 Emergency Services Challenge in relation to donation of blood. The media release is below and links to their flyers. To consider supporting this very worthwhile community there are links to further information below
Gordon Hall
President SESVA
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WA emergency services to help with critical need for blood
The Blood Service hopes a blood drive between WA’s emergency services will help prevent a winter shortage, as stocks of O-negative and O-positive blood slip to just two days’ supply. More than 800 donations are still needed in WA in the next two weeks, as the impacts of cold and flu wipe out existing donors and put a strain on the nation’s blood reserves. To combat the winter shortage, leaders from WA Police, St John Ambulance and Department of Fire and Emergency Services will converge at the Police Air Wing at Jandakot Airport this morning to launch the 2017 Emergency Services Challenge.
It’s hoped together their donations will save over 2,000 lives, including those like Paramedic Wesley Ackerman, who needed multiple blood products after he was critically injured in a head-on collision in the line of duty last October. Mr Ackerman said he wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for blood donors and the life-saving work of WA’s emergency services. “After I was cut from the wreckage, I needed urgent blood transfusions in the rescue helicopter and then more blood products once I arrived at hospital,” Mr Ackerman said. “Blood donations save lives and I encourage everybody – both my fellow emergency service colleagues and people across WA – to sign up to give blood.”
Blood Service spokesperson Jessica Willet urged people with type O blood to roll up their sleeves to help boost blood stocks. “O-negative is a vital blood type that is often carried on road and air ambulances so it can be given to patients in life-threatening situations,” Ms Willet said. “O-positive is the type that 39 percent of Australians have – and therefore the most type needed – should they require a blood transfusion. “We’re calling on more West Australians to follow the lead of the state’s emergency service workers and donate blood now to give others a second chance at life,” she said.
Some useful information on the Red Cross and blodd donations:
