While dubbed as a contest by the Red Cross, everyone tends to be a winner.
Spanning four counties, the Northeast Tennessee Chapter of Red Cross recently held the 11th annual Battle of the Badges as a way to promote the activities of first responders and garner blood donations to assist with a busy time of the year, according to Red Cross representative Thomas Hensley.
“It is always an exciting event,” Hensley told the Elizabethton Star. “We’re very grateful to everyone that took part in the event and donated to honor the men and women that do so much for our communities.”
Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties each participated in the contest, which allowed residents to donate blood in honor of a particular emergency personnel division, ranging from police and fire departments to EMS.
In Carter County, Hensley announced that Carter County EMS was the top organization was donors with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and county volunteer departments following closely behind. Elizabethton Police Department and Elizabethton Fire Department were also recognized for their actions during the county’s day of donation on Monday, Sept. 11 at Oak Street Baptist Church.
“We were able to receive 48 lifesaving donations thanks to the people that donated,” Hensley said. “Each of the departments in the community deserves acknowledgment. These donations are going to people in need.”
Between the four counties, Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee was able to receive 422 “lifesaving products.”
Hensley also thanked the staff of Oak Street Baptist Church for their continual support of different blood drives over the years.
The fall season tends to be the peak time of the year when the Red Cross is in urgent need for blood and platelet donors, due to different circumstances, including different natural events, students returning to school and other situations.
Ramping up the inventory of supplies goes in conjunction with September recognized as National Preparedness Month. Whether it be locally, or some of the instances of natural disasters recently stemming from inclement weather, the Red Cross needs to collect nearly 14,000 blood donations daily for normal patients for roughly 2,600 hospitals across the country.
To take part in a blood drive, use the Red Cross Blood Donor app or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).