According to a press release from the American Red Cross on Tuesday, Utah State University and Weber State University’s annual Blood Battle was set to kick off with Utah State University drawing first blood on Tuesday.

Michael Smauldon, executive director of the American Red Cross Northern Utah Chapter, told the Standard-Examiner on Tuesday that the Blood Battle has been going on since 2003.

“It’s been a really friendly rivalry between Utah State University and Weber State University,” he said. “It’s a great event that happens every year right when school starts. The campuses and the communities really come together for this amazing cause.”

According to the press release, since its inception in 2003, the drive has helped collect more than 20,000 units of blood for patients in Utah and beyond.

Smauldon said this is quite significant.

“It’s become one of the most successful college campus rivalry blood drives in the nation,” he said. “There’s several other universities and colleges that do the same type of thing in other states, and ours has become the most successful in the country, which is amazing. Hats off to each of the universities and the students and especially the communities to come together to support it.”

Smauldon said each university is aiming to collect 1,000-1,500 units of blood in their respective week. USU is up first this year, collecting blood at the Taggart Student Center from Sept. 2-5 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. WSU will collect blood next week, Sept. 8-12, at the Shepherd Union Building, or SUB, and Dee Event Center from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day.

As an example of the event’s popularity, Smauldon said the goal for USU on Tuesday was 100 total collections and that, as of Tuesday morning, there were 103 people who had signed up beforehand.

“That is not even people walking in the door, which is probably the highest level for each school — the walk-ins,” he said. “We’re hopeful for the next two weeks to have a very successful competition here.”

Bryan Magaña, public relations director at WSU, told the Standard-Examiner on Tuesday that it’s also proven very popular on the WSU campus.

“We love to see students peeking their heads around the corner to see what’s going on in that ballroom and then saying, ‘Cool, I want to help. I’ll donate,'” he said. “I’ve been in that room and seen first-time donors with smiles on their faces because they know they’re doing something really significant. They know it’s going to benefit another human life.”

He said that the Blood Battle presents a unique opportunity for students.

“The Blood Battle is a chance to bring people together for something that’s meaningful but also extremely important,” he said. “There’s a perpetual need for blood, and American Red Cross makes it easy to give. We’ve loved teaming up with them over the past 20-plus years.”

Magaña noted that the Weber State blood drive next week will be open to everyone.

“I’d encourage everyone to come to Weber State and be part of the battle,” he said. “If it’s your first time donating blood, it’s a chance to be brave. If you’re a longtime donor, it’s a chance to keep the tradition going strong.”

Smauldon said the blood drive comes at an especially critical time of year when, traditionally, donations of blood start to dip for a time.

“It’s right as school is starting,” he said. “People are taking those last-minute camping trips, last minute vacations and people get back into the busy season of life. Kids are in school; they’re back at work. So we tend to see a dip right after the summer months, and the summer months are pretty low in the first place with everyone on vacation and traveling. That short dip is very concerning, so we just want to make sure that we can insure that we have plenty of blood in our hospitals.”

He said USU and WSU both deserve a lot of credit for the effort their students and associated communities put into the annual blood drive.

“We’re just thankful for both Utah State University and Weber State University for always being willing to come together,” he said. “Their student bodies get together; their student body leadership gets together and pushes this. So we’re just truly thankful for them and being willing to do this every year.”

The press release adds that, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strips, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma from Aug. 29 to Sept. 21 — including those taking part in the Blood Battle — will receive a mystery bag with one of four special Peanuts T-shirt designs.

Those looking to make appointments at USU are encouraged to visit RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code BLEEDBLUE.

Those looking to make appointments at WSU are encouraged to visit RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code BLEEDPURPLE.