The Baystate Health mobile blood drive will be at the headquarters of the Southwick Fire and Police Departments on September 11. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK – Baystate Health is set to host their Fourth Annual Southwick Fire vs. Police Blood Drive, which will take place outside the headquarters of the Southwick Fire and Police Departments.
For the last three years, the fire department has raised the trophy and defeated police in the blood drive competition.
On Tuesday, September 11, from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., members of both departments, friends, family, and the community will have the opportunity to donate blood to their local hospitals. People will have the choice to donate blood for fire or police.
“We’re looking to retain our title so having people support the fire side would be great,” said Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson.
However, the police are getting tired of losing the competition.
“I am asking that you join the police department team this year because I’m tired of us getting beat,” said Southwick Chief of Police Kevin Bishop.
Despite the desire to win the friendly competition and earning bragging rights, the two town officials acknowledged the most important part of the blood drive.
“I’m encouraging everyone to come out on September 11 and join us in donating blood,” said Bishop.
Anderson noted the impact donating blood can have when it’s being transported to local hospitals.
“The chances it could go to someone you know is pretty accurate,” said Anderson. “While it’s a friendly competition, it’s really about trying to get as many participants as we can.”
The local hospitals that could be affected by the blood drive include Baystate Noble, Baystate Wing, Baystate Franklin, Baystate Mary Lane, Baystate Children’s Hospital, Baystate Medical Center, The D’amour Cancer Center, and the Level 1 Trauma Center.
Amy Benson, a recruiter for the Blood Donor Program at Baystate Health and organizer of the blood drive, really harped on the type of impact donating blood can have.
“It’s so important to support this cause because you never know who you might be helping. It could be a friend, a family member, that person you walked by this morning, or that accident you heard about last night,” said Benson. “It’s so gratifying to know that you could have made that difference.”
Last year, fire defeated police by having 12 donors while the police only had seven donors. Most importantly, according to Benson, over 40 lives were saved due to the work from the first responders in Southwick.
If an individual wants to sign up to donate blood and support the fire department, contact them at 413-569-6363. For police, you can contact them at 413-569.5348. People can also call Baystate Medical Center at 413-794-4600 to make an appointment or to discover more information.
Anyone that participates in the blood drive on September 11 will receive free admission to the Big E, which runs from September 14 to 30. In order to give blood at the drive, people must be at least 17-years-old, have photo identification, and weigh 110 pounds or more. Individuals must be in good health, no colds, sore throats, or allergy symptoms. Other requirements are as follows:
– Know where you have traveled in the past three years
– No tattoo’s in the past 12 months
– No body piercings in the past 12 months
– No dental cleaning, fillings, in past 24 hours
– All donors are also highly encouraged to have plenty to eat and drink prior to donating blood
