DUBLIN, Ga. — Dozens of people donated blood today at Dublin’s VA hospital.
13WMAZ is partnering with the American Red Cross in an effort to get more blood donations from healthy people during this time of the year.
A single blood donation can save up to three lives, and the American Red Cross says that there is a critical need for blood donors at the moment.
During the summer, there’s a higher need for blood with families going out on vacations, outdoor sports activities and other events and injuries that lead to emergency visits.
Michael Catoe, the Dublin VA volunteer service specialist, says when you think about giving blood, you should think about the lives you might be saving.
“It’s not just for yourself or your immediate family, but it’s to give and to be able to do something to help someone else - to save a life,” Catoe said. “It’s just a selfless act that really doesn’t take much time to do, but it’s very important for the life of someone else that you could be saving.”
According to the VA, all blood types are needed and the donations take about 45 minutes. The VA takes walk-ins, and donors receive snacks and drinks after donating blood.
“When you donate blood, you can save multiple lives, being that the blood can be saved for over a year,” Catoe said.
You can donate blood if you are between the ages of 16 and 18 as long as a parent consents to the donation, according to the American Red Cross.