The pressure is on the Clanton Police Department, though in a different way than the officers are used to.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is hosting a “Guns and Hoses” blood drive, with CPD competing against the Clanton Fire Department to see which group can donate the most units of blood.

Three other such drives have been held in the state, and the fire department was the winner each time.

“It doesn’t have to be a fire department member or a police department member that gives blood; it can be anyone in the community,” said April Stinson, LifeSouth recruiter for Chilton, Autauga and Elmore counties. “You’ll just pick which side you want to donate for when you come in. It’s something that I hope the community will respond to and that we can make an annual event.”

The drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 30 in the Clanton City Hall parking lot.

As always, donors will receive a free cholesterol screening and a T-shirt, which will have a “heroes” theme, based on the country’s fire and police services.

“We would like to get 20 units, 20 donors,” Stinson said. “That’s our daily goal for every drive—but we’ve prepared for if the drive performs really well.”

Past “Guns and Hoses” drives were held in Wetumpka in July, and Prattville and Tallassee earlier this month.

Stinson said she has high hopes for Clanton’s response.

“Chilton County is always good about helping us out,” she said.