St John WA tops 2021 WA Emergency Services Blood Challenge for fourth year running

• St John WA has taken out the win for the fourth consecutive year in Lifeblood’s 2021 WA Emergency Services Blood Challenge, surpassing the Western Australian Police and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services teams in the annual event,
• St John WA staff and volunteers contributed a total of 460 donations of blood including 307 donations of plasma – the equivalent of saving up to 1380 lives,
• One blood donation is needed every 24 seconds in Australia to help save lives and with donated blood only lasting 42 days, ongoing donations are crucial to meeting demand.

St John WA has taken out the win for the fourth consecutive year in Lifeblood’s 2021 WA Emergency Services Blood Challenge. Competing against Western Australian Police and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, St John WA rallied its troops to dig deep and donate.

This year, more than 273 St John WA staff and volunteers, including 34 new donors, contributed a total of 460 blood donations – the equivalent of saving up to 1380 lives. Over the past four years, St John WA’s staff and volunteers have collectively made 1924 donations of whole blood, plasma and platelets.

Organised by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, the annual challenge encourages employees that work in emergency service roles to donate blood or plasma to help save the lives of the countless Australians who require emergency blood transfusions each day. St John WA is the only ambulance service to secure the title at a state level.

One blood donation is needed every 24 seconds in Australia to help save lives. With donated blood only lasting 42 days, ongoing donations are crucial to meeting demand.

St John WA CEO, Michelle Fyfe said the team was thrilled to continue their winning streak and support Western Australian lives at the same time.

“Being a state-wide emergency service, we are reminded each and every day as to why blood donations are so important. I’m so proud of the St John WA team for coming together and donating blood and plasma to support our community members who need it most,” Ms Fyfe said.

“The Western Australian Police and Department of Fire and Emergency Services teams put up a great fight, and we’re pleased that our combined efforts will make a huge difference in the lives of many across the country.”

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Group Account Manager, Gina Tracey said it was great to see the large volumes of donations coming through from the emergency services.

“While this challenge is positioned as a bit of light-hearted competition among peers, its impact is monumental. We hope that through these challenges, we can encourage others to regularly donate and spread the word on just how important blood donations are,” Ms Tracey said.

“In recent months, we’ve experienced a record number of people cancelling their donation appointments. Now more than ever we are calling for people to donate, we need more than 1000 new Western Australian donors to book a donation in the next six weeks.”

Through this challenge and the ongoing commitment of its dedicated people, St John WA supports and protects the Western Australian community.

To continue the positive impact made by our emergency services and make a lifesaving blood donation, visit – https://www.lifeblood.com.au