Air Method Kentucky and T.J. Samson Community Hospital partner for the 2026 Battle of The Bases

BARREN COUNTY, Ky. – On Wednesday, Air Method Kentucky Eight partnered with T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow for the fifth annual Battle of The Bases Blood Drive.

Each year Air Method bases throughout Kentucky compete to see who can gather the most blood throughout the six different Air Methods in the state.

The blood drive was started as the need for donations were rising, and there weren’t many people interested, so they found a way to boost interest within the communities.

“During COVID, we realized how much people were cautious about donating blood. So we decided to create this friendly event in the hopes of bringing in donors,” said Kendall Kline, a flight nurse with Air Method. “And it’s done great. In the past four years. We brought in over 620 units.”

Appointments to donate were almost full online, but walk-ins were accepted, showing how the community wanted to help with the blood shortage and competition.

Even members of the organization have donated, citing what giving your blood can do for someone in need.

“I’ve personally given blood to patients and watched it turn them around in front of my eyes. And when we don’t have that, it’s it’s kind of hard to to do our jobs successfully,” said Tyler Beauchamp, a flight paramedic.

The blood donated will go to both the Red Cross and and the different Air Methods across Kentucky. This blood is used in many ways as the crews carry different blood products with them on flights when dealing with trauma patients.

With the blood shortage going on right now, it is important to get out and donate as much blood as possible as it can go a long way in saving someone’s life.

“People who are in massive traumas, bad car wrecks, farm accidents. And I mean, you can also give it for things like if you have a head bleed, you fall down, hit your head and there’s blood in your brain. Sometimes you need blood. Kids often eat a lot of blood. Sometimes patients with cancer need blood, so it saves many, many lives. When you donate blood, one unit of blood can save up to 3 people’s lives,” Kline said.

The competition and blood drives will continue on throughout the month of March as each post looks to bring home the Battle of the Bases Trophy this year.

Kentucky Eight aims to bring it home for the third time this year and dethrone Elizabethtown.