Officials at Miller-Keystone Blood Center have announced that the first annual ‘Boots Badges and Bandages’ competition between firefighters, law enforcement and emergency medical service personnel will kick-off on Memorial Day, May 26, and run through Labor Day, September 1.
‘Blood donations traditionally decline in the summer months, due to high school breaks and family vacations,’ said Sean Tinney, Director of Marketing and Business Development. ‘However, we still need to collect approximately 450 units per day, 365 days per year, to meet the transfusion needs of our regional hospitals. The Boots Badges and Bandages competition is a great way for the Blood Center to partner with our local heroes, and to thank them for the leadership they demonstrate every day in our community,’
Tinney notes that a single car accident victim can require as many as 50 pints of blood, while premature infants often receive blood transfusions during their stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Cancer patients, meanwhile, are the largest user group of blood products, as they often require red cell and platelet transfusions during their course of chemotherapy treatment.
The public is invited to support the friendly competition by donating in honor of their favorite hero. Each organization has partnered with the blood center to recruit donors and raise awareness of the importance of blood donation. Individuals can donate at any MKBC donor center or community blood drive between May 26 and September 1, and have their donation go towards their favorite first responder: Fire (Boots) Sponsor Code 7417 – Police (Badges) Sponsor Code 7416 – EMS (Bandages) Sponsor Code 7418. Individual blood drives will have their own code.
To schedule an appointment at any MKBC donor center or blood drive, visit the Center’s website at GIVEaPINT.org.