Post Falls, Idaho – The Kootenai County Fire & Rescue are partnering with Vitalant to host the Battle of the Badges, a blood drive competition to see who can get more donations for their respective organizations.
The competition is Thursday from 11-3 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fire & Rescue office in Post Falls. Donors can sign up online or walk in, and decide which group they want their donation to count towards.
Vitalant donor recruiter manager Erin Baker said that this is a crucial time to donate, as summers see decreased donations and increased need for blood. “Blood donation is a daily activity, we don’t just use it for traumas we use it for cancer treatments for bleeding diseases, I mean there are so many reasons to donate blood every day,” Baker said. Firefighter and Paramedic Alexandria Lind donated Wednesday because she is on shift during the drive and said she sees first hand the impact blood use can be in helping patients. “We do see a significant shortage out here in the community and it’s something that’s just really near and dear to us. If we can help in any way then we’re totally all about it,” Lind said. Lind said they have recruited their off duty staff to donate in hopes of beating the law enforcement, but both sides are working towards a bigger goal. Anyone who donates will receive a t shirt, pizza, and two tickets to the North Idaho State Fair, taking place Aug. 19 and 20.
