PGPD PGPD & PGFD Chiefs Call on First Responders to Take Part in Blood Drive

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Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski and Prince George’s County Fire Chief Ben Barksdale today issued an important call to all who wear the badge in our county. In just a few weeks, both agencies will again partner with the American Red Cross for the second Battle of the Badges Blood Drive.

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The first Battle of the Badges was held in August of 2018 and it was a great success. Members of the PGPD, PGFD and citizens donated enough blood to help as many as 138 people! The PGPD took home the trophy that day, but the real winners are the many citizens who received those life-saving donations.

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One of those who was helped by the August blood drive is a young woman named Kaitlyn. The 20-year-old grew up in Waldorf and now attends college in Baltimore. She was born with sickle cell anemia and despite the health challenges she has faced, she has excelled in school and embraces life. Kaitlyn received transfusions from two donors at the first Battle of the Badges. She now undergoes a blood exchange transfusion every three weeks which requires 9 pints of blood to complete.

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We hope the upcoming blood drive is an even bigger success than the first! Please consider donating that day.

Here are the details:

When: July 12, 2019 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Where: Kentland Community Center
2413 Pinebrook Avenue
Landover, MD 20785

If you do think you’ll be able to stop by that day, please make an appointment by downloading the free Blood Donor App at 3cu.be/blood, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

[ This article originally appeared here ]