CONCORD — Roll up your sleeves and choose your challenger: the second annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is returning to Cabarrus County.
Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is the reigning champion from last year and that means a large group of challengers are coming for the crown.
Donation days
The two-day event, held in partnership with the Red Cross, is Tuesday, July 22, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, July 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at EMS headquarters at 793 Cabarrus Ave. W., Concord.
The blood drive is designed to encourage public participation, with donors choosing which “badge” they want to honor with their donation. Door prizes, T-shirts and food will be available on both days.
EMS, Fire Services and the Sheriff’s Office are the county departments joining the “battle,” along with city of Concord Police and Fire Departments and the city of Kannapolis Police and Fire Departments. County volunteer fire departments also are represented.
People are also reading…
According to the Red Cross, 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed daily. The organization often sees a decline in donations during the summer months due to summer vacation for schools and families.
A drop in donations
In 2024, the Red Cross experienced a 25% drop in donations, causing an emergency blood shortage. This year, the organization is urging donations to avoid blood supply impact.
“This blood drive is more than just a friendly competition,” said EMS Deputy Chief Justin Brines. “It’s a way for our community to come together and directly impact the survival of patients in critical need. Soon, our EMS supervisors will be equipped with blood products to initiate transfusions in the field, offering a new level of pre-hospital care for patients experiencing life-threatening blood loss.”
Ninety-eight units of blood were collected at last year’s event, which saved 294 lives. Sixty-eight of those were first-time blood donors. This year, organizers are hoping for a whole lot more.
According to Brines, the state record for Battle of the Badges blood drives is 217 units. You can help Cabarrus shatter that record by registering for a time slot here: bit.ly/3TUnDve or by visiting the EMS Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cabarruscountyems and finding the link in the “Featured” section.
