Holiday Blood Donations

In the last couple months of 2012, tragedy has swept the nation leaving people to wonder, "How can I help?"

The Red Cross says during the holidays, blood donors get too busy and stop coming in, but the need for blood increases.

Red Cross Medical Assistant Dawn Perry tells us, "Most people don't realize how important (giving blood) is unless it affects them intimately... be it a family member, a close friend or themselves." 

The need for a blood donation hit home for one worker at the Red Cross when a close friend lost both of his legs in an unexpected accident.

 Susan Sikoryak says a boy put his rifle on his bed, and then put a coat over it, and it accidentally shot her 19-year-old friend through both legs.

 She said, "He lost over 50% of his blood supply" and without blood donations, "he would have died."

 Zackary Hartley, a first-time donor at the Red Cross tells us, "People think it's horrible and should be nervous, but it's not that bad and it feels really good."

 Nobody said giving blood was fun, but giving blood just one time can potentially save three people's life.

 Only 5% of the eligible population donates blood, but 95% will need a blood product at some point in their lives.

 We learned the most car accidents where blood is needed happens on New Year's Eve but Susan says, "Here we sit, right before New Year's Eve, with no blood donors."

 The next blood drive at Johnson City Blood Donation Center is Monday, December 31. It is from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.on Sunset Drive.