Fire Fighters Local 452 member Dane Kelsey, a captain paramedic in the Vancouver Fire Department, knows how important blood drives can be. Several years ago, his infant son received blood transfusions when hospitalized with Crohn’s disease.
“Talking to my wife, we just wanted a way to give back,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey came up with an idea for a blood drive: the “battle of the badges,” a competition between Vancouver firefighters, Southwest Washington police departments and American Medical Response medics to donate the most blood. The blood drive was a partnership with the American Red Cross and supported by Local 452. It took place July 19 at Vancouver city hall. Participants donated 25 pints of blood, enough to save the lives of about 75 people, Kelsey said.
Kelsey is happy with that result—and the fact that the fire department donated the most blood and came out on top. However, it fell short of his goal to collect 34 pints.
The prize? Just bragging rights, he said. But the American Red Cross is offering next year’s winner a trophy.
“I might take them up on that,” Kelsey said.
