Salem’s police and fire departments will go head to head next week as residents are invited to give blood and pick their favorite.
By appointment, Salemites can donate blood at the second annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive on Wednesday, Aug. 17 or Thursday, Aug. 18.
The event is intended to increase the local blood supply hit by traditional summer lows and a wave of need due to Covid.
Each donor gets a free shirt and can vote for their favorite first responder agency between the Salem Police Department and Salem Fire Department.
“At the end of the two-day blood drive, the agency with the most votes wins bragging rights until the next blood drive battle,” a city Facebook post said.
Last year’s blood drive collected 76 “lifesaving blood units,” and Salem police prevailed with 53% of votes, according to the city.
You can register online to donate blood at the event in the Salem Police Department Community Room, 333 Division St. N.E.
This year’s blood drive comes as the American Red Cross is reporting “a concerning drop in blood and platelet donations this summer,” according to a news release from the organization’s Cascades region office.
Because of the decline in donations, the Red Cross’ blood supply shrunk nearly 20% in the weeks prior to July 27.
The organization said donors are needed to make an appointment to donate in August to help prevent a blood shortage, and the availability of blood products will keep declining if donations don’t increase. Type O negative blood donors and platelet donors are especially needed.
“This is a concerning trend that may soon make it tougher to keep blood products stocked on hospital shelves,” said Paul Sullivan, Red Cross senior vice president of donor services, in the release. “By choosing a time to give now, donors can help pump up the blood supply for those in immediate need of lifesaving care and those who rely on transfusions for treatment.”
You can schedule an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
