FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER — Honor your hero, be a hero and save a life. Each day, the Hoover fire and police departments help save lives while on the job, and now they are teaming up with the American Red Cross to help save lives off the job.

The Hoover Boots vs. Badges Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 at the Public Safety Center located at 2020 Valleydale Road in Hoover.

All presenting donors will receive a custom Boots vs. Badges theme T-shirt, donuts and coffee, while supplies last.

Boots vs. Badges comes at an important time. While many are making fun summer plans, others will spend some summer days in the hospital. Blood donations typically decline in the summer months, so this is an important time for donors to give before vacations and other activities dominate their schedule.

One blood donation can help save up to three lives, and volunteer blood donors are the only way to ensure a stable blood supply.

Honoring law enforcement and first responders, while helping to save lives through blood donation is a great partnership the Red Cross has with the city of Hoover.

“We’re looking forward to a great future and appreciate Mayor Frank Vincent Brocato, Fire Chief Clay Bentley, Police Chief Nicholas Derzis, city officials, and Revocation Radio Network for supporting our lifesaving mission,” said Ronnika A. McFall, external communications manager of the Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region. “Donating blood only takes about an hour and the leaders and heroes of this community can provide a great opportunity to help give patients a chance to celebrate more holidays to come.”

The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients in need. Blood is needed for many different reasons. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code: hoover or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.