NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Battle of the Badges returns for the 16th annual event Sept. 10 at Venue 304 in North Platte.
The annual blood drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Donors will cast a vote for Team Red (fire and EMS) or Team Blue (law enforcement). The agency with the most votes will claim bragging rights for the year and be added to a traveling plaque.
The event was first organized in Lincoln County to honor first responders killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since then, it has grown into a community tradition. In the past 15 years, more than 1,300 units of blood have been donated.
“This is about honoring service while also meeting a real community need,” the Red Cross said. “Every pint of blood donated can help save up to three lives.”
This year's donors will receive a commemorative Battle of the Badges T-shirt or a limited-edition Red Cross PEANUTS mystery T-shirt, along with a meal.
The Red Cross said all blood types are needed to ensure a stable supply for patients. Donors must be at least 17 years old in most states (16 with parental consent, depending on state law), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in generally good health. High school students and other donors age 18 and younger must also meet certain height and weight requirements.
To schedule an appointment, donors can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Donors are asked to enter sponsor code “NPbattleofbadges” to register for the event. RapidPass, an online tool available at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass, can also be used to complete pre-donation reading and health history questions to save time on donation day.
The Battle of the Badges is one of several community blood drives held each year in Nebraska. The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood and relies on volunteers and donors to help maintain hospital inventories.