Community participates in blood-drive competition

Green River community members headed to the recreation center last Wednesday and Thursday to donate blood and support Sweetwater County emergency responders.

Battle of the Badges is a friendly blood-drive competition between the local emergency response agencies. This summer marked the second year for the blood drive competition and the first year Green River agencies participated.

Taking home the traveling plaque for Battle of the Badges this year is the Green River Fire Department.

For Battle of the Badges, members of the community donated blood and after donating they received a ticket to place into the bucket for the agency of their choice. Whichever agency received the most tickets wins.

Thursday morning, donor Aja Witt put her ticket in for the Green River Fire Department, while retired Green River Police Patrol Sergeant, Dave Hyer gave his ticket to one of the police departments.

"It's fun to see the community come out and donate and support their emergency response teams," Sandy Thomas, United Blood Services Senior Donor Recruitment Representative said. Each person who donated received a special designed Battle of the Badges T-shirt.

The challenge brought out 202 donors between the Green River and Rock Springs communities.

"It's important to donate at this time of year because the summer months can get crazy because people are more active," Thomas said.

She also explained that scheduling Battle of the Badges close to half a year from the high school blood-drive competition helps supply enough blood for the entire year.

"The high school challenge is in January and we brought this out far enough so we have an abundance of blood for those months and then have some for summer," Thomas said.

The traveling plaque will reside with the Green River Fire Department until next summer when the agencies battle it out again.