Sheldon, Iowa — The eighth annual Heroes Behind the Badges Blood Drive will be on Monday, February 16th in Sheldon.
It’s not only a great opportunity to help bolster the area blood supply, but an opportunity to give a team of two city emergency services bragging rights over the team of the other two.
Ken Ver Steeg, spokesman for the Community Blood Bank says that it’s a friendly competition between two teams of Sheldon emergency responders.
He says the drive has been growing, but they could use some more donors as well. He says donations are down this time of year.
He says they would like to encourage you to give, even if it’s your first time — not only because they really need the blood right now but also so that you can show your support for our local heroes, as well as those receiving treatment in the hospital.
He says it only takes about 25 minutes, it includes a mini-physical and a few questions. If you are on medications, take a list of them with you. But Ver Steeg says there are very few medications that if you were on them, that would prevent you from giving blood.
Ver Steeg says over the eight years the drive has been running, the two teams are pretty much in a dead heat. It seems like each team wins every other year. The winning team receives a travelling trophy and bragging rights for the year.
Community Blood Bank is the sole provider of blood and blood products to Sanford Sheldon and 29 other local hospitals.
Again, the public is encouraged to designate their blood donation in honor of the departments of their choice.
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