Hawkesbury police will face off against firefighters, paramedics and emergency response workers and volunteers as part of the 2018 Australian Red Cross’ Emergency Services Blood Challenge.
The local boys and girls in blue will go up against neighbours Nepean and Blue Mountains Police Commands as well as the Dog Unit to see who can donate the most blood, donate the most plasma, and who has the highest number of new donors.
At the campaign launch at the Nepean Blood Donor Centre on Friday, June 15, Hawkesbury Police Area Commander Detective Superintendent Jim Stewart said the challenge would create a friendly rivalry between police area commands and other emergency services, with the goal of replenishing blood stocks during the winter months.
“Every day our officers respond to serious incidents including road crashes, serious assaults, drug and alcohol-related incidents, and natural disasters. For the victims of these incidents, blood donors are their lifeline,” Det Supt Stewart told the Gazette.
“The Red Cross Blood Bank also provides lifesaving blood and plasma for critically sick adults, children and newborn babies, and if each eligible person in NSW gave up less than an hour of their day to donate blood it would make a huge difference.
“Although all four Commands will be going head-to-head in a competitive nature, we are all in it together and hope the example shown by all emergency services will encourage the community to donate blood and make a positive difference to current blood stores.”
The state-wide winter challenge started on June 1 and will run until August 31. For more information on donating visit www.donateblood.com.au.
