Middletown vs. Portsmouth Fire Departments Blood Drive Competition

Middletown might had been defeated to Portsmouth in the recent , but residents have a second chance at some friendly community competition this week. 

This Friday, July 20, Portsmouth and Middletown fire departments will hold life saving blood drives from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The event is open to the public. 

In the first annual community blood drive competition held last year, Middletown edged out Portsmouth by collecting 17 pints of blood, just one more than Portsmouth. Together, the 33 pints collected potentially saved nearly 100 lives.

The drives, both open to the public, will be held at the individual fire headquarters -- 239 Wyatt Road, Middletown and 2300 East Main Road, Portsmouth.

The Rhode Island Blood Center’s said it needs to collect 28 pints of blood each day to meet patients' needs. The blood drives come at a critical time of year, with the schools out for summer and many individuals in a vacation mindset, increase the Rhode Island Blood Center’s challenge of collecting up to 280 pints of blood each day to meet the needs of those hospitalized within our community.

To donate blood and platelets individuals must be 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. Sixteen-year-olds may donate if they weigh at least 130 pounds, have a parental permission slip (available on the Blood Center’s web site), and be in general good health.

For information about blood drives, donor centers, and blood facts, visit the Rhode Island Blood Center’s web site, www.ribc.org.