By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 2021 Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is ongoing this week.
"We've actually been doing the Battle of the Badges for quite a number of years here in Hutch," said Troy Meuller with the Hutchinson Fire Department. "I've been on the department for 23 years and it goes back at least 15 years that I can remember of us doing the Battle of the Badges every year."
144 pints of blood were collected Monday on a goal of 161. Appointments are available for the rest of week. The ballots from Monday are Fire 50 and Law 56.
"The need for donors for blood is probably at an all-time high," Mueller said. "Not only are we dealing with the pandemic across the nation and the need for blood just from that, a downfall of the pandemic is people haven't been able to get out and give blood."
Some blood products are even more important right now.
"With them doing the antibody tests, one of the things that they have a big need for is the convalescent plasma from blood that may have the antibodies and that can go a long way to helping some of the folks that are really struggling with COVID-19 and battling it in the hospital."
The drive continues Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church at 201 East Sherman and Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Advance America at 921 East 4th Avenue Suite B in Hutchinson and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nex-Tech Wireless at 1441 East 30th Avenue Suite E in Hutchinson.
To set your appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or get the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
CLICK HERE to download the HutchPost mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.