96-year-old SC Army veteran eager to give blood

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Ninety-six-year-old Joe Johnson is first in line when a bloodmobile shows up at his South Carolina retirement home. He says he is eager to save lives and keep up the habit he started during his Army career.

The former infantry soldier says he thinks he’s given gallons of blood over the years, and doesn’t see any reason to stop.

Johnson lives in an assisted living center in Greenwood and tries to recruit others to give blood when a blood drive is under way.

The American Red Cross says there is no upper age limit for giving blood, but one normally must be 16 years old and in good health.

The American Association of Blood Banks estimates about 44,000 blood units are used in hospitals or emergency rooms every day.