Blood Drive for Pennsylvania Firefighter Turns Ugly

When a volunteer from a local fire company was recently diagnosed with a serious illness, his fellow firefighters decided to hold a blood drive in his honor. Those friends assumed some of that blood would directly help him, but instead, they said, two organizations are competing over who gets the blood, and the fire company is caught in the middle. It's been a tough couple of months for members of the Indiana County department. As it is, they're worried about the health of one of their own -- and now they fear the blood they and others are donating won't end up in the one place they intended it to go. The reason, they said, is competition. Inside the Saltsburg Volunteer Fire Hall hangs a coat that has not been touched, and beneath it, boots that have not been worn in nearly two months. "There's a lot of guys here --as corny as it sounds -- (that) probably love Rob Bender," said Fire Department President Bob Dice. Bender is a 32-year-old force veteran once nominated by his peers as firefighter of the year. He is a man who, on his own dime, paints and details the fire trucks but was recently diagnosed with leukemia. "We wanted him to know we're with him all of the way," said Dice. The Red Cross holds regular blood drives at the fire hall, and the firefighters planned to dedicate the next one to Bender to replenish the blood used for his transfusions and give the rest to others in need. "It should have been something that went so smooth," said Dice. "Fifty pints of blood. Boom. Here you go. Instead, it's actually been an aggravation to us." Last week, another organization, the Central Blood Bank decided to hold another blood drive four days later, also in Bender's honor, through his family. The reason? Bender is being treated at UPMC Shadyside. The Central Blood Bank is paid under contract to provide blood for that hospital and most others in Allegheny and Washington counties. The Red Cross provides blood in most of the outlying counties including Indiana County, the home of the Saltsburg Fire Department, making the two nonprofits, in essence, competitors. "It's just infuriating that American Red Cross and Central Blood Bank cannot co-join forces and accept that gift." The Red Cross said it's trying. During a phone interview, a spokesman from the Red Cross said, "We have made an offer to the blood bank that supplies Shadyside Hospital to replace or replenish the units that are used by the patient." He said they're waiting to hear back. The spokesman said in the past, the Central Blood Bank has not accepted similar offers. The Central Blood Bank declined Call 4 Action's request for an interview, but on the offer from the Red Cross, a spokesman said, "We're waiting to see something in writing," adding "it is not uncommon for regional blood centers to sponsor blood drives within the same geographic area." "All we want to do is be able to give in his name and it go where it needs to go and it help our buddy out," said Dice. As things stand now, the first blood drive, held by the Red Cross, will be Nov. 16. The Central Blood Bank will hold its own drive on Nov. 20. The fire chief said he has no idea which one to endorse. The organizations suggest people give at both. Related Links:More County News