Happy birthday, local blood drives!

Graafschap Fire Department is marking a year since it began hosting American Red Cross blood drives with its fifth collection event from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29.

The event is important to help the Red Cross. The national blood product supply has fallen by more than 25 percent since July 1, according to the group.

The popularity of the local drives has meant organizers plan to use a larger area of the station, 4534 60^th St., moving out of the training room.

The fire department plans to use the training room to demonstrate its new hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation course.

Walk-ins are welcome for the blood drive, but appointments can be made at https://www.redcrossblood.org/  Enter 49423 as the zip code and find Graafschap Fire Department.

Give blood in August and receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card by email. For more information, click here.

The fire department hosted its first event on Aug. 31, 2023, with each successive event collecting more units.

Risk reduction

The blood drives at the fire station are part of a broader community service provided by the fire department.

The department has free weekly blood pressure checks at the facility from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays.

The department is also engaged in Community Risk Reduction, providing home safety inspections and an expanded smoke/carbon monoxide detector program.

Reflective address signs are made in-house by Graafschap Fire Department retirees. The signs are usually ready for pick up at the fire station after two business days of receiving the order – and the $20 cost is paid at the time of pick-up.

The signs can also be ordered here.

The program also continues a smoke and carbon monoxide installation program that is beginning its 11^th year. Free alarms installed by firefighters are available to residents. These 10-year lithium battery alarms are provided by a state grant.

For more information, call the fire department at (616) 396-4060 or visit here.