THE RESULTS ARE IN FOLLOWING THE 10^TH ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BADGES BLOOD DRIVE:
FRESNO POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTURES
AN EIGHTH WIN WHILE THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME IS CELEBRATING ITS THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN

A whopping 2,779 donors turned out to give blood for the 10^th annual event – that’s 471 more than last year.  The Fresno Police Department brought in the highest number of donors overall while the California Department of Fish and Game had the highest percentage (of blood donors versus staff size).  The State Center Community College District Police Department won in the under 20 staff category while Cal Fire in Madera County walked away with the award for largest number of donors in Madera County with Mariposa County Fire Department winning largest number of donors in Mariposa County.  The staff at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, gave the most donations from a correctional facility – it’s second win! 

CENTRAL VALLEY, CA – The Central California Blood Center would like to thank all donors from the community who took part, as well as the administration and departments of the various law enforcement agencies and other badge carrying emergency personnel.  That’s because the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday to ensure our safety annually face off in a friendly competition to save lives by giving of themselves, literally, and donating blood before the busy Memorial Day Weekend.  It was all part of the 10^th Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive.  As in past years, Firefighters, Police, Forestry, Sheriff, Corrections, Fish & Game, Highway Patrol and other badge-carrying emergency personnel competed for bragging rights, and a perpetual trophy.  

And, this year, the winners were the Fresno Police Department, who won the “Most Donors Overall” award, California Department of Fish and Game who received the “Highest Percentage of Donors” award and the State Center Community College District who had the most donors in the “Under 20” category.   In the “Largest Number of Donors in Madera County” competition - Cal Fire Madera County won while the winner of “Largest Number of Donors in Mariposa County” is Mariposa County Fire Department.  The winner of the “Most Donations from a Correctional Facility” award goes to the staff of Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. 

The Blood Center would also like to offer special thanks to CBS Channel 47 for their sponsorship of this life-saving competition.

Blood donation takes less than one hour to complete. Donors must be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old (16 years old with written parental consent). Senior citizens are encouraged to donate, as there is no upper age limit. Donors should eat a good meal and drink plenty of water within 4 hours prior to their donation. Donors can give blood every eight weeks. Photo ID and Social Security Number are required at donor registration.

The Central California Blood Center is the sole provider of blood and blood products for the 31 hospitals in Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Kings and Mariposa Counties and must collect between 5,000 to 6,000 pints of blood a month to meet the needs of our Valley community.