The Rotary Club of Port Pirie was approached by Rotarian Dr George Pillay seeking the donation of a Blood/Fluid Warmer to the Port Pirie Hospital. The existing Blood/Fluid Warmer is now 40 years old and no longer meets the needs of the hospital.

The project was accepted by the Community Committee of the Rotary Club of Port Pirie. Fund raising efforts to raise the $4,560 required included:

• Raffle
• Rotary Bowls Night
• Telstra Foundation Community Connection Grant
• Rotary District Simplified Grant

 A Blood/Fluid Warmer provides significant benefits when treating emergency trauma patients who require large quantities of blood or are suffering from hypothermia.

As blood is stored at low temperatures transfusions would decrease body temperature dramatically if not warmed. Large unheated transfusions could even cause hypothermia.

Patients suffering from hypothermia often require intravenous saline drips and the ability to warm this saline solution assists in heating the body and increases the speed of recovery.

          Hospital CEO Roger Kirchner                                                 
Hospital Theatre Supervisor Sue Wilkinson

            Rotarian Dr George Pillay

        Rotary President Neville Ferme