Chesterfield Fire and EMS to hold blood drive in March

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Chesterfield County Fire and EMS will hold its second annual blood drive in partnership with Inova Blood Donor Services in March.

The blood drive will be held on Tuesday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Eanes-Pittman Public Safety Training Center, located at 6610 Public Safety Way.

According to Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Inova supplies the blood for the department's Whole Blood Program, which is the first of its kind in Central Virginia.

Officials said whole blood is carried by the department's paramedics on the MedFlight helicopter and by its Tactical Safety Officer.

The blood is administered to trauma patients, such as crash victims, who need blood immediately before getting to the hospital.

According to Chesterfield Fire and EMS, since its partnership with Inova began, whole blood has been used nearly 70 times.

Those interested in donating blood at the event can sign up here.