Hatzolah rolls up its sleeves to help others
Two volunteers from Haztolah of Sydney have registered for the Emergency Services Blood Challenge this winter in a bid to pump up the number of blood donations.
IT’S only a friendly competition, but the results will be lifesaving.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is running the Emergency Services Blood Challenge this winter in a bid to pump up the number of blood donations.
The challenge puts police officers, firefighters, nurses, SES members and ambulance paramedics across the country up against each other to see which group can donate the most blood by the end of August.
Two volunteers from Haztolah of Sydney – a Jewish, eastern suburbs-based medical emergency, first-responder service – have registered so they can contribute to the paramedics’ blood donation tally.
The not-for-profit organisation’s president, Rabbi Mendy Litzman, and first responder colleague Tzvi Eliezer Berman, told The AJN they are eager to roll up their sleeves.
“We’ve both signed up and we are also going to try to get as many of our first responders to give blood as we can,” Rabbi Litzman said.
“A lot of them already give blood regularly … most recently, some did for Libby, a lovely young girl who is fighting cancer and is one of our volunteer’s children.
“At Hatzolah as first responders, we know the importance of blood donations because we see people in direct need of blood firsthand.
“To give blood is to give life and vitality, and it’s a big mitzvah to help another human being [in this way], regardless of their race, gender or ethnic background.
“So by taking part in this challenge, if we can encourage others to give blood, that would be great.”
According to the Blood Service, one in three Australians will need blood in their lifetime.
The nation needs about 1.3 million blood donations each year and currently 16 per cent of that comes from group donations, like those made by emergency services personnel.
Last year the Emergency Services Blood Challenge resulted in 7189 blood donations and was won by the police.
Donating blood takes only one hour and is an easy way to help cancer patients, as well as burns, surgical and trauma patients, people with immune disorders and many other conditions.
To find out more about donating blood and where donor centres are located, phone 131 495 or visit www.donateblood.com.au.
SHANE DESIATNIK
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