Full Notification

Today, the Montclair Police Department will participate in our second “Battle of the Badges” blood drive with the American Red Cross.

The Battle of the Badges is an opportunity for all badge carrying personnel, along with their friends and family, to positively impact our community by participating in a friendly competition to see who can donate the most blood and ultimately help save the most lives. It is a simple way to give something back to the community in their time of need.

A few facts about blood donation:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• Approximately 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
• Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, less than 10% actually do each year.
• Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from generous donors.
• Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.
• Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments.
• Every blood donor is given a mini-physical, checking the donor's temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin to ensure it is safe for the donor to give blood.
• The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes about an hour and 15 min.
• The average adult has about 10 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.

The blood drive event will be held in the Montclair Senior Center, 5111 Benito Street, behind City Hall, today from 2-8pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-signing ensures a much faster process. Please contact Lieutenant Kumanski by email or phone to reserve your appointment time. Identification is required to donate.