Ohio first responders engage in blood donation battle

By Lance Mihm
The Lima News

OTTAWA, Ohio — After a blood drive at the Ottawa Volunteer Fire Department turned out low numbers several years ago, the Putnam County Red Cross decided to up the ante a little.

Now, emergency personnel will engage in combat for a traveling plaque. The Ottawa Fire Department, Ottawa Police Department and Ottawa EMS competed in the first Battle of the Badges at the Fire Department on Wednesday.

Donors giving blood throughout the day Wednesday were rewarded with a new T-shirt and snacks after donating a pint of blood. They also voted on their favorite agency of the three, and the winning agency will get to keep the plaque until the next year's event.

"We had one a long time ago and it didn't do so well," said Micha Alt, treasurer with the Hancock and Putnam County Red Cross. "We are trying to start a tradition and we added a little friendly competition."

The new approach seemed to be paying off. By 5 p.m., 38 people had already donated blood, just two short of the goal of 40. The blood drive lasted until 8 p.m. Alt said it is important to give blood because it will help people in the region.

"About 80 percent of it will stay in northwestern Ohio region," Alt said. "It is used to fill local needs, and it goes to other places based on need."

Alt said that every pint of blood will save three people's lives, meaning the blood drive would impact 120 people once they met the goal. Everyone is also notified of how their blood helped someone through email.

""Everybody that gives blood will receive an email that says where the blood goes," Alt said. "They will know how their donation helped someone."

Copyright 2016 The Lima News (Lima, Ohio)

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