Fire or Police? You Decide in Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

Farmington Hills Fire Dept. looks to hold onto a special title Thursday, in the annual Battle of the Badges blood drive held from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the .

In this friendly competition, participants can cast a “vote” with their blood donation to help raise the tally of either department. In 2010, final tally was 36 votes for the Police Dept. and 48 for the Fire Dept. – and a handful of donors refused to take side. 

According to the American Red Cross, August is traditionally the most difficult month to collect donations and local inventories often fall to critically low levels. All blood types are needed, with Type O in especially high demand since it can be transfused to patients in other blood groups and is used in most emergency trauma cases when a patient’s blood type isn’t known.

Giving blood takes about an hour. Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 years of age or older. For more information, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or 1-888-288-2525 or visit givelife.org.