It was a rare but pleasing sight at the Lismore Lifeblood Donor Centre on Bounty Street yesterday, with members of the Richmond Police District and members of the public combining to form a full house to help stock the fridges ahead of the busy holiday period.

Operation ‘Bleed 4 Blue’ is an annual blood drive that was launched in 2018 following the stabbing of Detective Sergeant John Breda at Maroubra on Australia Day 2018, with more than 100 bags of blood needed to keep him alive. Yesterday, fifteen (15) officers from the Richmond Police District (RPD) took to the chairs with regular donors.

Now in its sixth year, Operation ‘Bleed 4 Blue’ is a national drive between police that sees forces and the community encouraged to visit a Lifeblood donor centre over the festive season and has so far contributed more than 1202 bags of blood donated. 

The RPD had already seen 18 police officers donating so far for this year’s drive, helping to save the lives of more than 50 Australians relying on blood, including cancer and trauma patients. 

With blood demand at a 12-year high and the festive period a challenging time of the year for blood supplies, Scott Tanner, Superintendent (Supt) for the RPD, is throwing their support behind the challenge. 

"I think this is because, as emergency service workers, we see the need for blood. And I'm just reflecting now as we talk: there's a motor vehicle accident down at Ballina where someone's being airlifted to the hospital, and you go, that person may need blood. So what better way for us to give back to our community than by getting our police officers to give blood. It really does sort of hit home."

There is a national callout for blood donors. Traditionally, the Christmas/New Year holidays are the busiest time of the year with increased road traffic and domestic matters.

(Superintendent RPD Scott Tanner, Constable Courtney Chalmers and Lifeblood's Scott Morrison)

"There's a whole different range of things, a lot of added pressures around Christmas time, as we know, in the domestic and family violence space. So, we certainly have an increase in reported crime and calls for service this time of year," Supt Tanner said.

Apart from the serious side of blood donation, there is also some friendly rivalry between police districts within NSW and Australia.

"Last year, we took out the challenge. We beat the Victorians," Supt Tanner explained, "Unfortunately, the Vic's are in front at this stage. So, we've done a bit of a call to arms today, and we've got 15 of our local police that are giving blood.

"We'll see by the end of the week if we beat the Vic's because every time we put out a call for service, so do they. But look, I'm confident we will be coming home strong."

(Probationary Constable Jordan Siemsen giving plasma at the Lifeblood Lismore Donor Centre)

Lifeblood Lismore spokesperson Scott Morrison said Lismore needs 100 donors to step forward between now and the second of January.

"Lismore, as a community, always stands up and responds for us. It's wonderful seeing Scott Tanner and his police officers here donating blood and plasma today.

"We've just gone to a national call out across the country. In our region, we need 100 donors between now and January 2. That's how many vacant spots we've got. So our normal donors are off taking holidays and a well-deserved break, so we are just asking anyone in the general public who hasn't donated before or hasn't donated in a while but has always thought about it to step forward.

"Come and register online at www.lifeblood.com.au, or they can simply download the Donate Bllod App on their iPhone or Android, and they can always call 13 14, 95 and talk to someone there to get registered and book an appointment.

"It's really a critical time of year, Christmas time; we've always seen the need for blood and plasma. It's an hour for a blood donation and an hour and a half for a plasma donation.

"It's a very altruistic thing to do this time of year. We always have that giving season, and we want to make sure that we get our people to donate in the Lismore and Northern Rivers region so that we can save lives and keep the blood stocks up."

(Constable Carolyn Groves giving plasma)