Police, Fire Departments Compete for Blood Donors

The Avon Police and Volunteer Fire departments will hold a friendly competition to attract donors for a blood drive Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the fire station on Darling Drive.

It's the second year for the Battle of the Badges drive, and already the prospects look good for beating last year's total for donated blood. The 2010 drive brought in 61 units of blood, said volunteer Joe Kuzma. As of Wednesday 64 people had already made appointments to donate for the 2011 drive. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Donors may specify whether they are giving blood in the name of the fire service or law enforcement. Last year the fire department brought in more donors than the police did, but that's not really the point.

"We just thought it was a unique and fun way to bring awareness to the blood drive," Fire Chief Michael Trick said. "We just want to get a good turnout for the Red Cross."

"We kind of borrowed the whole Battle of the Badges theme just to generate more interest," said Kuzma, who is doubly involved -- as an Avon volunteer firefighter and a Red Cross employee. He is the senior director of corporate programs for the American Red Cross Connecticut Region.

"At the end of the day, the winners are the recipients of the donated blood products," he said.

Blood drives are often held at churches, but most will not be available Friday because of Good Friday services. That made it a good day to hold a blood drive in the fire station, Kuzma said, and to hope that potential donors who are Christian will find an extra reason to give.

The fire department plans to hold another blood drive around the 10th anniversary of the 911 terror attacks in September, Trick said.

Appointments to donate blood can be made at www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-773-2767. All blood types are needed.