Todd Edwards, a detective with the Westfield Police, and Mary Regan, Westfield’s Fire Chief, laugh over the exchange of some friendly and competitive banter while they donate blood at Baystate Noble Hospital. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Fire Department took home the trophy in the 6th Annual Westfield Police vs. Westfield Fire Blood Donor Challenge that took place Monday at the Baystate Noble Hospital Blood Donor Center.
41 units of blood were donated in the classic red vs blue showdown, all of which will stay local in Baystate Health Hospitals including Baystate Children’s Hospital and the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care.
Amy Benson, Baystate Noble Hospital’s blood donor recruiter, holds up this year’s shirt for the Westfield Police vs. Westfield Fire Blood Donor Challenge. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
According to Amy Benson, blood donor recruiter for Baystate Health, 51 people showed up to participate and the effort was enough to save 82 lives in our community.
“We’re a level-one trauma center, the only one in Western Massachusetts,” said Benson. “The need for blood is constant. It never ends. This competition is very important because it raises awareness within the community. It sort of puts it in our mind bank, ‘Oh right, I should donate blood.’ We always have to make sure we have a safe and adequate blood supply at all times. We have to be ready for any kind of trauma or significant kind of blood loss.”
Tim Souza, from Westfield, and Lisa Shaw, a phlebotomist at Baystate Noble Hospital, pose for a picture just before Souza begins to donate blood. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
Benson said the blood is used to help all types of cases including women delivering children that need blood and babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, and that this event helps to ensure some of that blood gets donated.
“It’s a great event,” said Mary Regan, Chief of Westfield Fire. “It’s police and fire working together to give blood to the community. It’s good for everybody.”
Jason Williams, a Westfield police officer, agreed with Regan and said that he just enjoys helping out and doing his part.
Cindy Brown, a phlebotomist at Baystate Noble Hospital, prepares Jason Williams, Westfield Police officer, to have his blood drawn during the 6th Annual Westfield Police vs. Westfield Fire Blood Donor Challenge. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
In addition to members of the police and fire departments showing up to donate, numerous Westfield residents, like Tim Souza, also took time out of their day to donate.
“I’m a universal donor, as long as they’re human,” Souza said with a laugh. “Both of my parents donate. Morally it’s right.”
Benson said she is very thankful for the first responders of Westfield and that they are huge supporters of the event.
“You never know who’s going to need blood,” said Benson. “It could be a friend, it could be a family member, it could be the person you walked by this morning.”
