News & Events

Boots and Badges Blood Drive

CONTACT: Jamie Muldrow, 803-251-6034, muldrowjb@usa.redcross.org

 Community Citizens Encouraged to Donate Blood in Support of

Local Public Safety Officials

First annual “Boots and Badges” competition to kick-off Memorial Day Weekend

 The Columbia City Police and Fire Departments are partnering with the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region Memorial Day weekend for the first annual “Boots and Badges” blood drive. The event will be held at the American Red Cross Columbia Donor Center, 2751 Bull St., 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 27-29 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 1 and 2.

Columbia-area residents are invited to show their support for local firefighters and police officers and become a hero this summer by giving blood for a patient in need. Community blood supplies are typically scarce during holiday periods due to high school and college summer breaks and family vacations; however, the blood supply doesn’t take a vacation and patients continue to need life-saving blood. To help offset the strain placed on the blood supply during the start of summer, the “Boots and Badges” blood drive competition is being help to increase donations during Memorial Day weekend.

 Fire and police department employees, their family members and friends, along with community supporters are invited to participate. All donors at the Boots and Badges blood drive will receive a free Boots and Badges T-shirt, a chance to vote for their favorite “team”—“Boots”-firefighters or “Badges”-police officers—plus a chance to win a cruise for two through the Red Cross “Sail Into Summer” promotion.

 For every unit of blood collected, the Red Cross will tally one vote for the City of Columbia Fire Department or the City of Columbia Police Department based on the donors’ choice. At the end of the drive, the Red Cross will announce the department with the most votes and honor the winner with a commemorative plaque. 

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to patients in 54 hospitals. Approximately 500 people need to give blood or platelets each week day to meet hospital demand.

The Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to donate so that hospital patients have the blood or platelets they need to make a full recovery. Blood is needed to help treat a variety of patients including accident victims and individuals undergoing surgery and cancer treatment.

 Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

 Call 1-800-RED CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to learn more about giving blood or platelets or to schedule an appointment to donate.

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