The Defence Blood Drive is up and flowing in South Australia.
Eleven Navy, Army, Air Force and Australian Public Service personnel rallied at the Lifeblood Port Adelaide donor centre on September 13 to kick off local donations for the worthy cause.
Among them was Flight Lieutenant Lincoln Watts, of the Joint Proof and Experimental Unit at Port Wakefield, who knows firsthand how donated blood products save lives.
"I worked as a scrub nurse and anaesthetic nurse in the civilian world for many years, so having seen in operating theatres how bad things can get when you run out of blood or cannot get it, I cannot understate how important blood donations can be," Flight Lieutenant Watts said.
"Most people think 'I won't need blood' or 'my donation won't make a difference', but traumatic events can happen to anyone.
"Take a look around your family table next time you sit down for a meal. Those might be the people you save."
The reservist nursing officer said supporting the blood drive was a simple way to give back to the community.
"Every donation helps and the sheer numbers that the Defence community can bring to contribute to this does make a huge difference," Flight Lieutenant Watts said.
Fellow donor Corporal Rachel Cope, of the Australian Army Band - Adelaide at Warradale Barracks, said getting involved was rewarding in more ways than one.
"My very first donation was for the Defence Blood Drive, and I now try to donate at least four times a year," Corporal Cope said.
"It's just nice to know that there's something small you can do to help so many lives.
"It's also a good opportunity to meet other Defence members and have a bit of healthy competition between the services - and the free food is pretty good too."
The Defence Blood Drive runs to December 8, with the aim of achieving a record 11,000 donations this year.
