They were closely followed by NSW Police.

The challenge - which runs nationally - encourages employees within emergency services to donate blood or plasma to help save lives of countless Australians who require emergency blood transfusions each day.

Despite a national pandemic that stretched both blood supplies and the state's emergency services, local workers made 140 donations and helped save more than 400 lives between June and August.

"Our Emergency Services have been stretched by COVID in many different ways, impacting how they work as well as increasing the demand on their services," Lifeblood spokesperson Gilly Paxton said.

"This has been a phenomenal contribution saving the lives of countless Australians in hospital who have been made vulnerable by the pandemic."

The 2021 challenge saw a record number of new donors roll up their sleeves, including Greg Davies from Marine Rescue Port Macquarie.

"I had never considered donating before but when Marine Rescue NSW got behind the challenge it was important to our team at Port Macquarie to get involved," he said.

"We work together to make our coastal areas safe every day. Donating blood as a team is another way we can come together to save lives."

Inspector Stuart Campbell from NSW Police has made nearly 60 donations and is proud of the contribution the police make throughout the year.

"The challenge provides an extra impetus for us to go harder and encourage colleagues who don't donate to get involved. Despite the challenges of this year it was great to see such a strong result locally and from police across Australia," Insp Campbell said.

"We love the competition but know the real winners are the patients relying on our donations. That could be me or someone close to me one day."

Lifeblood says while locals and emergency services have kept supplies flowing to patients, the next hurdle was to maintain supplies of O negative blood type, the universal blood type used in emergency situations.

Every week, Australia needs 31,000 blood donations to help save lives and with donated blood only holding a shelf life of 42 days for use, ongoing donations are crucial to meeting demand.

With hospitals returning to normal and our roads busy again, the service said strong stocks of the blood type would be needed in the coming months.

Those in the community with O negative blood type are urged to make an appointment by calling 13 14 95 or visiting lifeblood.com.au

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