IDF officers, soldiers give 25% of all donated blood

Magen David Adom praised the officers and soldiers during a ceremony at Tel Hashomer hospital.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Updated: AUGUST 22, 2017 04:09
IDF soldiers (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
IDF soldiers
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
A quarter of all the 249,000 units of blood donated in the country last year were given by members of the IDF, Magen David Adom officials said at a ceremony at MDA’s blood bank at Tel Hashomer this week.
“Giving blood is a matter of values and a moral obligation both to our soldiers and civilians,” said IDF Chief Medical Officer Brig.-Gen. Dr. Dudu Dagan at the event, where units that gave the most blood were given prizes in 12 different categories. The leading units with the highest percentage of donations were the Home Front Command, the Barak Battalion and the Rimon Unit.
“In recent years we have been exposed to the tremendous power that blood donations have to save lives,” Dagan said.
“In 2016, IDF personnel donated more than 66,000 units of blood.”
“The cooperation of Magen David Adom and the IDF is a significant element in the field of blood donations, in routine and emergency situations, from road accidents to war. I am sure that the IDF will continue to be a significant contributor in the future, and I thank you soldiers, commanders and outstanding units for the values you bring,” he added.
Prof. Eilat Shinar, director of MDA’s blood services, said that just one blood unit can save the lives of three people.
He explained that “thus you donors, by giving 66,000 units, have saved the lives of almost 200,000 people in the country last year alone. You are an example of pure and meaningful giving as true volunteers without any compensation. Your motivation is only one – to give life to wounded and sick people who need transfusions of blood units and components.”
MDA director-general Eli Bin concluded: “The tremendous contribution of IDF soldiers is a direct result of the commanders’ efforts to instill values throughout the line of command.”