On Tuesday, June 1^st, Captain Rob Hutchens hosted a blood drive at Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PF&R) Training & Safety Facility in NE Portland.  His goal was simple - to energize PF&R members and provide a convenient way to give back to the community. 

Captain Hutchens worked with a Red Cross representative to help make the blood drive a success.  He organized the location, publicized the event, recruited donors within PF&R, and scheduled donors for their appointments.  The Red Cross brought equipment supplies out to the training center in the Blood Mobile, confidentially screened donors, and collected the donations. The Red Cross states that donated blood will be used in about two weeks after it has been thoroughly tested.

21 PF&R employees donated 21 units of blood during the blood drive. The Red Cross reports that just one donation can help save the lives of up to three people! 

Captain Hutchens has organized the Annual Blood Drive for about five years. PF&R personnel have given over 100 units of blood to the Red Cross in that time. Hutchens himself gave his 31^st unit of blood on June 1^st. That is almost four gallons! 

Hutchens is dedicated to this cause in honor of his son Flynn.  Flynn had an unexpected, 14-hour open heart surgery when has was three days old.  During that surgery, Flynn received 18 units of blood and blood products from the Red Cross.  Hutchens is happy report that Flynn is a happy and healthy seven-year old today!

Interested in giving blood or hosting a blood drive for your organization or business? Click here for further information or visit the American Red Cross online at http://www.nwblood.redcross.org/donating-blood.

  Portland Fire & Rescue We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

  June 8, 2010