North Las Vegas police and firefighters are suiting up for a different kind of emergency this week, trading sirens for snack tables as the Battle of the Badges blood drive returns to the Aliante Casino. The fifth annual showdown comes at a time when blood donations are running low nationwide, turning the friendly rivalry into a very real lifesaving mission.
The two-department competition runs Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Scottsdale Ballroom at the Aliante Casino Hotel & Spa, according to FOX5 Las Vegas. North Las Vegas officers and firefighters will be on hand to rally donors and help collect units that are headed to area hospitals.
The timing is not an accident. Earlier this month, the American Red Cross declared a national blood emergency after its inventory dropped about 25% in June, tightening supplies needed for surgeries, trauma care and treatment of chronic conditions, according to the American Red Cross. The organization says donations need to stay steady to prevent disruptions in both routine and emergency transfusions.
In Southern Nevada, the local chapter has turned up the volume on its appeal and is offering incentives to help refill hospital shelves. “Blood donation is one of the simplest ways to help patients in need,” Rachel Flanigan, executive director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter, said in a statement to the Red Cross of Southern Nevada. Organizers say Battle of the Badges is built to both restore supply and pull the community into the cause with a little good-natured trash talk.
How the rivalry works
The rules are simple. When donors give blood, they pick a side: police or fire. Each donation counts as a vote, and when the doors close, bragging rights go to whichever department racked up the most support. Past North Las Vegas drives have used the same setup to draw both walk-ins and appointments, turning the pride of each department into extra units for local hospitals, as FOX5 Las Vegas reported in earlier coverage.
How to donate
Appointments are recommended, and donors can schedule through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or on the organization’s website. Same-day walk-ins may be accepted, depending on capacity.
Those planning to give are asked to bring a photo ID, drink plenty of water beforehand and eat within a few hours of donating. Organizers say the goal is to add dozens of usable units to local blood inventories ahead of what is typically a busy summer stretch for hospitals.
National and regional blood leaders, including hospital groups and organizations such as AABB, have joined the Red Cross in urging donors to step up now so routine care and emergency treatment are not compromised. AABB has warned that if low collections continue, hospitals could be forced to postpone some nonemergency procedures until supplies recover.
