Firefighters step up and donate blood for injured colleague

The family of an FDNY firefighter from Islip Terrace who was badly burned on the job made a plea for blood donations last week, and Good Samaritans did not disappoint. Rob Wiedmann got second- and third-degree

News 12 Staff

Dec 27, 2011, 11:22 PM

Updated 4,735 days ago

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The family of an FDNY firefighter from Islip Terrace who was badly burned on the job made a plea for blood donations last week, and Good Samaritans did not disappoint.
Rob Wiedmann got second- and third-degree burns over more than 50 percent of his body when his clothes went up in flames during a fire in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn Dec. 19.
Long Island Blood Bank Director Benjamin Greco says doctors needed 15 pints of rare Type O Negative blood for the injured firefighter, who is expected to undergo eight surgeries over the next few weeks. He had his first surgery yesterday and his second today, both of which were successful.
Wiedmann's brother, Doug, says the needed 15 pints of blood were raised immediately largely thanks to firefighters stepping up to donate.
Now, Wiedmann's family wants to give back by organizing a blood drive in the firefighter's honor in an effort to help others.
The blood drive will be held Friday at the Baldwin Fire Department, where the Wiedmann brothers were once volunteers.Blood Drive for Rob Wiedmann