Wichita, Sedgwick County fire departments celebrate victory in Battle of the Badges

For the luncheon celebrating another successful Battle of the Badges, the decorations seemed particularly appropriate.

Caution tape, something all the first responders in the room were familiar with, served as the table runners Tuesday for the event celebrating the blood donation competition between the Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Service and area fire and law enforcement departments.

The Battle of the Badges is a yearly competition among the departments where anyone who donates blood can submit a vote for a department. The Wichita and Sedgwick County fire departments won this year by 44 votes.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Lt. Chris Fleming of the Wichita Fire Department. “We poke at each other, we make fun of each other, but at the end of the day we really come together as a band of brothers and sisters of first responders.”

The competition started as a way to increase blood donations in December and early January, a time of year when they are often needed but are in low supply, according to Michelle Jantz, executive director of the Red Cross in Wichita.

“It’s a really great fit because these first responders know first-hand the need for blood and the connection with the American Red Cross,” Jantz said.

Fleming said that this is the 12th win for the fire departments, while law enforcement has won nine times. EMS hasn’t won yet, but it is only in its second year of the competition.

The Red Cross exceeded its goals for the competition for platelet and blood donations. It had a goal of 1,188 units and received 1,330 units of blood. Each unit of blood can help up to three patients.

The Red Cross had a goal of 500 units of platelets and received 517. Jantz said platelets are used to help cancer patients when their blood platelets are destroyed during chemotherapy.

The departments learned first-hand about how donations can help cancer patients from one of their own. EMS Capt. Renee Moraine spoke about her youngest son, Caleb, and his battle with bone cancer.

Moraine said the Red Cross had a huge effect on their life, especially during Caleb’s treatments. Caleb is now cancer free and a senior in high school.

Moraine reminded those at the luncheon that while the competition is fun, it is also incredibly important.

“Whether the votes were for fire, PD or EMS, the real winners are the recipients of the blood,” she said.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Wichita, Sedgwick County fire departments celebrate victory in Battle of the Badges."