MACON, Ga. — According to the American Red Cross, someone needs blood every two seconds - for a surgery, an injury, an illness or more.
The need becomes greater with folks leaving town for vacations and other summer activities.
13WMAZ is partnering with the American Red Cross to address blood donor shortages and Central Georgia Tech in Warner Robins is one of the places where you can donate.
Just one donation can save up to three lives and the American Red Cross says there is a critical need for blood donors.
Suzanne Lawler with the American Red Cross says all blood types are needed right now and giving blood is not time-consuming because blood donation takes about 45 minutes and you can fill out your personal information on their app.
Paula Capiloff says she gives blood because her father, Mark Capiloff, was a regular donor.
"He donated gallons and gallons. Unfortunately, he passed several years ago so I don't have the records of the number of gallons he gave but I remember seeing in his drawer the list of every time he gave and he kept up with it and it was multiple gallons," Capiloff said.
Capiloff said her father started donating when he was in the military reserves. She says as a regular donor for 50 years, he knew what it meant to donate. She says what he did left him a legacy and the blood-donating tradition was instilled in her.
"Now I try to get here every time the calendar allows me to," Capiloff said.
According to the American Red Cross, if you're over 17 and in good health, you can donate every 56 days. Lawler says blood donations aren't on people's minds, but they matter for many people.
"I talk to blood donors as they come in and I ask 'Hey why are you coming to give blood today?' Many of them say because, 'I had a family member that needed blood, I had a family member or somebody that I love was in a car accident, I know somebody with sickle cell.' For those reasons it is so important for blood donors to come through the door," Lawler said.
The Red Cross says 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. Capiloff says she tracks her donations in the Red Cross app.
She says it feels good to save someone's life.