Riley County EMS, Riley County Police Department, and Manhattan Fire duked it out to get the most votes for the Battle of the Badges blood drive on Monday and Tuesday.
Wrapping up the competition at St Thomas Moore Catholic Church, the three departments brought in people to donate 284 pints of blood, only four pints short of their goal of 288. However, that blood could still go on to save the lives of up to 852 people here in Riley County. Each pint of blood donated can help up to three patients.
RCPD Assistant Director Kurt Moldrup says this a friendly competition between the departments that is also helping people in the area.
“We enjoy the banter back and forth, but the overall goal is to get people out here to give blood,” says Moldrup, “These kinds of events and banter between the departments really helps make a cooperative working environment.”
Moldrup says there has been plenty of “trash talk” between the departments to have fun while working, but they do not forget why they are there.
Kristi Ingalls with the American Red Cross was glad to see how many people were able to make it out to the drive. Currently, the Red Cross is in an emergency need for blood.
“We have awesome support from the community with regular donors who come to donate blood every 56 days,” says Ingalls, “We really county on EMS, Fire, and the RCPD to reach out to the community and encourage people to come.”
Ingalls says if people were not able to make to the drive, don’t wait until next year to donate. Blood can be donated every 56 days. Moldrup chimed in as well there is always a need a for blood and to not just donate when there is some kind of drive.
In the end, the EMS won with 127 votes, followed closely behind by MFD with 91 and RCPD with 88 votes.
