While a friendly competition between Lubbock police and the firefighters is good, joining forces to save lives and promoting blood donations is even better.
During this week, LPD and LFR are battling it out as part of the 10th annual Battle of the Badges blood drive with the help of Vitalant Blood Donations.
“This drive literally helps carry us through the summer, as far as for patients here in the area needing blood,” said Carla Alexander.
Being the communications manager for Vitalant, Alexander said this drive helps during a time when blood donation is at a low due to people being on vacation, but is still very much needed in the local healthcare community.
Alexander said that one donation — which is one pint of blood — has the ability to save up to three people’s lives, with 1 in 4 people needing a blood transfusion in their lives.
“Last year we got about 350 units, our goal this year is about 400 for this blood drive,” Alexander said. “We use about 100 units a day.”
How to participate?
The Battle of the Badges blood drive lasts through Sunday, July 20 with the public being able to donate at South Plains Mall from noon to 6 p.m. each day.
This blood drive is also a friendly competition between LPD and LFR to promote blood donations from the community by encouraging them to donate on one of the departments’ behalf.
While LFR is defending their trophy and bragging rights from LPD this year, the community is as able to secure a nice reward, too, on top of saving lives.
“You get a t-shirt and you also get two movie tickets that come with popcorn,” Alexander said.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock police, fire challenge each other, community in Battle of the Badges blood drive
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
