Contest pits local fire departments against each other for community good
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP), in coordination with 22 fire departments across Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties, will sponsor the 12th annual Bucket Brigade blood drive challenge, which runs from December 2017 through January 2018.
The Bucket Brigade Challenge is a friendly competition among participating fire departments to see which department can host the largest blood drive by enlisting firefighters, friends, family and members of the community to donate blood during the holiday season.
The winter and holiday season is always a challenging time for blood collections due to rainy weather, busy holiday schedules, vacations and the flu season.
The recent wildfires that devastated multiple North Bay counties, along with the Gulf Coast hurricanes in September, serve as a reminder of the importance of keeping an adequate blood supply, both locally and nationally. Keeping shelves stocked by donating blood is one of many ways community members can come together to support one another. Since 2006, fire departments participating in the Bucket Brigade Challenge have recruited nearly 10,000 participants who donated thousands of units of blood for patients in Northern California hospitals. Last year, the Windsor Fire Protection District took home the coveted Bucket Trophy with 86 participants.
Participating firefighters recognize the significance of their blood drives. Chief Bill Bullard of the Graton Fire Protection District is a frequent blood donor and encourages his two sons to donate. A scoutmaster, Chief Bullard takes the scout slogan “Do a good turn daily” to heart.
“As a volunteer fire chief, I do my good turn through fire service and supporting my neighbors,” he said. “As a scoutmaster, I can instill the same level of community support to my boys and other young men.” Chief Bullard views blood donation as another way his sons and young scouts can be civic-minded and sacrifice an hour of their time for the possibility of saving one life.
Historically, the bucket brigade idea comes from the Great London Fire of 1666 that found community members in “brigades” passing buckets of water from the city’s water supply to the blaze that endangered their town and community.
BCP recruitment manager Andrea Casson brought these participating fire departments together 12 years ago with the idea of “creating a modern bucket brigade that gathers our community in an effort to save lives through blood donations.”
Multiple fire departments are hosting blood drives. To find one near you, see the complete list below. To make an appointment, visit www.bloodcenters.org/bucketbrigade or call 888-393-GIVE (4483). BCP recommends that for your blood donation, arrive well-hydrated, well-nourished and with photo ID. For eligibility information, visit www.bloodcenters.org. As in the previous 11 bucket brigade events, all blood donors will receive an exclusive event T-shirt.
Sonoma County Fire and Emergency
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bloodmobile: 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa
Graton Fire Protection District
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2 to 6 p.m.
Fire Station: 3750 Highway 116 North, Graton
Fort Bragg Fire Department
Thursday, Dec. 28, 2 to 6 p.m.
Fire Station: 141 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg
Cloverdale Fire Protection District
Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, 2 to 6 p.m.
Fire Station: 451 S. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale
Geyserville Fire Protection District
Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, 2 to 7 p.m.
Truck Bay: 20975 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville
Forestville Fire Department
Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, 2 to 6 p.m.
Bloodmobile: 6554 Mirabel Road, Forestville
Windsor Fire Protection District
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fire Station 2: 8600 Windsor Road, Windsor
Healdsburg Fire Department
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, 2 to 7 p.m.
Truck Bay: 601 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg
Wilmar and CAL Fire
Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Wilmar Truck Bay: 3825 Bodega Avenue, Petaluma
