NORTH PORT – North Port firefighters and police got into some friendly competition, but no worries, its all for a good cause.
Suncoast Blood Centers held their 15th annual Boots v Badges blood drive in North Port.
“It’s really about getting people to come in and donate blood, so anything that we can do as an incentive, because we make it a competition out of it, they’re critically low right now especially after COVID and bragging rights are on the line for us, so it’s exciting, it puts it a little bit more out there,” said Community Policing Officer North Port PD, Kristin Voigt.
The blood center needs at least 125 units of blood each day to continue to supply hospitals on the Suncoast , but have experienced a shortage since the start of the pandemic.
“Don’t wait for a trauma to come out and donate, do it in advance of the possibility of a trauma so we are ready to manage those and to handle the need of your neighbor, your husband, your wife, your child, any situation we have those units of blood to serve those individuals,” said Senior Donor Group representative of Suncoast Blood Centers, Cindy Winning.
One North Port firefighter says the department is pretty motivated
“Everyone that is coming through here is choosing either boots or badges, boots being the fire department which I believe really will win truly, and badges being the police officers, and it’s just kind of nice to see everybody’s split on things and seeing them out here,” said Firefighter and EMT, Matthew Simmons.
Simmons says overall, the community involvement is what matters
“We did stay pretty busy throughout the entirety of the pandemic and the situation, so its nice to get out, and be able to meet the community and see the people we are serving in a situation other than an emergent one, so it gives us a great opportunity to hear what they have to say, some feedback, I really like being out here with everybody as well as the police department, they are great, and we have a good relationship with them overall,” said Simmons.
If you are interested in donating blood, you can visit Suncoast Blood Center’s website here.
