Safety teams to vie in blood donations

Had a full, healthy breakfast? Did you get enough rest?

Then the American Red Cross and Newport Beach Police and Fire departments are inviting you down to the station to donate blood for the annual Battle of the Badges blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

The Red Cross is sponsoring the friendly, and bloody, competition between Southern California public safety agencies, both local and federal. Organizations like the Los Angeles County and Orange County sheriffs departments are hosting blood drives, along with the FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Departments will be recognized not only for most units of blood gathered, but for how many people donated compared with the size of the department so smaller groups, like Newport Beach’s agencies, have a fighting chance at topping larger ones.

The drive will be at department headquarters, 870 Santa Barbara Drive in Newport Beach.

— Joseph Serna