Plano, Texas – In a dynamic expression of civic engagement, the City of Plano organized a life-saving blood drive that concurrently featured a spirited competition dubbed ‘The Battle of the Badges.’ This initiative called upon the residents of Plano to not only generously donate blood but also to cast their votes in a friendly rivalry between the stalwarts of the city – the Plano Police Department and the Plano Fire Department.
The Battle of the Badges took place on July 13 in Plano
The contest occurred on July 13, as the Plano Fire Department triumphantly emerged as the winner. The declaration of their victory was promulgated via Facebook, with the tally reflecting a total of 433 votes.
Plano Fire Department won The Battle of the Badges competition, first win since 2006
The Fire Department, with 296 votes, secured a significant lead over the Police Department, which garnered a respectable 137 votes. This marked a momentous victory for the fire brigade, their first since the long drought that began in 2006.
“Thank you to everyone who participated,” the post reads. “This year’s donations equate to saving over 1,100 lives based on what was collected.”
Plano residents urged to donate blood as available blood units decline during summer months
However, the summer months often witness a notable decline in the number of blood donation appointments, as noted by the Stanford Blood Center. The key reason being families frequently travel during the summer, and school-based blood drives, usually a vital source of blood supply, are markedly absent.
“A lot of people are surprised to find out that 25% of the community blood supply is collected through high school blood drives,” Carter BloodCare spokesperson James Black said to CBS News. “So when our student donors are on break, it really has a ripple effect on the overall community blood supply.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) drew an analogy comparing the nation’s blood inventory to a gas tank, underlining the necessity for constant replenishment to meet hospital demands. They further stated that a US patient requires a blood transfusion every two seconds, revealing the urgency of maintaining robust blood supplies. Currently, there’s a particular shortage of O+ and O- blood types, underscoring the pressing need for more donors.
“Each day, the Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations for patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide,” American Red Cross spokesperson Rodney Wilson said. “This need doesn’t stop for the season, weather, holiday, or a pandemic.”
