CFA is off to a fast and meaningful start in this year's Emergency Services Blood Drive, holding strong in second place for national plasma donations and currently sitting in third place overall.
Crucially, a significant amount of CFA's 60 donations so far (equating to 180 lives saved) have been O-Positive blood types, one of the most urgently needed red cell supply levels, according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
Running from 1 June to 31 August, the Lifeblood campaign sees emergency service organisations across Australia compete to give the highest number of blood and plasma donations, all while helping save lives.
CFA Deputy Chief Officer Rohan Luke joined representatives from other emergency services at an event at the Melbourne Donor Centre on 1 June to launch the blood drive.
"One donation can save up to three lives," Rohan said.
"33,000 blood and plasma donations are needed across Australia every week to meet demand.
Right now, levels of O negative and O positive blood have dropped to their lowest point since 2023.
"If you've been thinking about donating, now's the time."
Bittern Fire Brigade member Jackie Crow, who has the universal O-Negative blood type, has donated blood and plasma more than 125 times and is once again rolling up her sleeves for the cause.
"I first started donating because a friend asked me to come along and give it a go and I've been doing it ever since," Jackie said.
While each donation is extremely important, in February of this year Jackie was contacted for an extremely important donation, which stands out from the rest
"The blood bank called and said my blood was urgently needed for a specific patient, not just a general supply," she said.
"I went in the very next day. I don't know who it went to, but just knowing it was going straight to someone in desperate need was incredibly special."
Jackie encourages others to get involved, especially those who may be feeling uncertain.
"It's quick, it's safe, and it's so rewarding."
In 2024, more than 14,000 donations were collected as part of the Emergency Services Blood Drive nationally, with almost one third coming from Victoria.
To book your donation, visit https://link.lifeblood.com.au/DheA, call 13 14 95 or download the Donate Blood app.
Please share this message to help Lifeblood find the donors needed most.
To find your nearest donor centre, visit www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre.
