Dr. Kurt Edwards has witnessed it all. Ahead of our Save A Life Blood Drive, he shared his firsthand experience on why you should donate.

“Blood is so important to what we do here,” Edwards said.

Edwards cares for nearly 4,000 trauma patients year, and the need for blood is the same. The demand for blood is where the American Red Cross is calling on donors. Someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets every two seconds, according to their website.

“We use blood fairly regularly. Once or twice a week we are transfusing blood or often times transfusing massive amounts of blood,” Edwards said.

You can watch the full interview by clicking the video above.

NewsChannel 13 and the Red Cross will team up for another Save a Life Blood Drive 11:30am – 6pm on Thursday, April 4th, 2024.

Locations:

Saratoga Kights of Columbus: 50 Pine Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Via Port Rotterdam: 93 W Campbell Road, Schenectady, NY 12306

America Red Cross of Eastern New York: 33 Everett Road, Albany, NY 12205

Brown’s Revolution Hall: 425 River Street, Troy, NY 12180

Watch and follow WNYT-NewsChannel 13 for all updates.

You can also donate anytime. To make an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit RedCrossBlood.org, or download the Red Cross app and use the sponsor code WNYT. Walk-ins are welcome.

The American Red Cross is now offering RapidPass. Save time at your next blood donation by using RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online on the day of your donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions.