Red Cross Presents Multi-State Battle of The Badges

Portland, Or - The Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region will be conducting their first ever Battle of the Badges blood drive in Oregon and Washington. Multiple organizations within the police and fire departments will be participating by hosting blood drives and recruiting blood donors.

The campaign is officially underway and will be running until February 16, 2013. The Battle of the Badges is a widely acclaimed blood drive competition between law enforcement and public safety agencies. The goal is to see which agency, together with friends and family, can donate the most blood. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. These generous public service agents are involved in a healthy competition where everyone involved wins.

The Battle of the Badges has been a success for seven years in the Southern California Red Cross Region, with over 150 separate drives occurring within the region during the one month span. The Pacific Northwest Red Cross will be looking forward to making their first Battle of the Badges a success.

Two Ways to Participate:

Present to donate blood on behalf of your agency at any American Red Cross blood drive between 1/16/13 - 2/16/13. Either present to donate blood yourself or encourage your friends and family to donate. Battle of the Badges ballots will be available at blood drives across Oregon and Washington to vote for the agency you are presenting to donate blood on behalf of.

Host a blood drive between 1/16/13 - 2/16/13. All participating agencies must be registered with Red Cross to be qualified for recognition.

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This life-saving effort can substantially improve the availability of blood for accident victims, cancer patients, premature babies, burn patients, or our those who may need regular blood transfusions in order to live. Typically, blood donations decline in the weeks after the New Year. Therefore, our badge-carrying heroes are stepping forward to help fill the constant need for healthy blood donors, hoping to inspire other to do the same.

To make an appointment to donate blood, please call 1-800 RED CROSS or visit us online at www.redcrossblood.org. Agencies needing more information about participating in the Battle of the Badges competition,contact Tim Lippert at (503)528-5574 or Tim.Lippert@redcross.org. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.