Watch: Red Cross Seeking Life Saving Donors and Volunteers

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds some on the U.S. needs blood.

Communications Manager Krystal Overmyer says the product’s short shelf life makes a constant stream of donors essential.

Columbia resident Brandi Brown tells ABC Columbia she didn’t realize the importance of donated blood during medical emergencies, until she was facing one of her own.

Brown explains, “I had to have an emergency C-Section and lost a lot of blood during the process so they had to give me two units of blood.”

Brown’s scary scenario left a lasting impression.

She says, “You don’t even imagine how many lives you can save by just donating a little bit of blood.”

In South Carolina, the American Red Cross needs 500 donations daily to meet the need of 50 regional hospitals.

“We need donors of all types to come forward but especially our O-negative donors. That is the universal blood type so that’s in high demand by hospitals,” says Overmyer.

In addition to donors, the organization is also looking for volunteers to deliver the blood products to the state’s hospitals. James Curtis, who is one of the organizations current drivers says you won’t regret getting involved.

Curtis describes his work, “On the packages that I carry it says it right there. the gratification is instant.”

Satisfaction that comes in the form of saving lives.

Brown says, “I don’t know what would have happened if I wouldn’t have been able to have it.”

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities:

Kershaw

Camden
4/11/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Kershaw County Hospital, 1315 Roberts St.

Lugoff
4/22/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lugoff Elgin High School, Highway 1

Lexington

Cayce-West Columbia
4/10/2016: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., SC National Guard Springdale Armory, 3528 Platt Springs Road
4/21/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Brookland Cayce Gym, 1300 State St.
4/30/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1330 Whippoorwill Drive

Chapin
4/7/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion Chapin Post 193 Inc., 102 Lexington Ave.

Columbia
4/7/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Palmetto Health Parkridge New Location, 400 Parkridge Drive

Gilbert
4/9/2016: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 246 St Pauls Church Road
4/26/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Peter’s Parrish Life Center, 1130 St. Peters Church Road
4/27/2016: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Lexington Presbyterian Church, 246 Barr Road

Lexington
4/8/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lake Murray Elementary School, 205 Wise Ferry Road
4/10/2016: 11:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Lake Murray Baptist Church, 1001 Highway 378 West
4/11/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Red Bank Baptist Church, 120 Community Drive
4/26/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Peter’s Parrish Life Center, 1130 St. Peters Church Road
4/27/2016: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Lexington Presbyterian Church, 246 Barr Road

Newberry

Little Mountain
4/11/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 531 Church St.

Orangeburg

Orangeburg
4/12/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., South Carolina State University, 300 College Street NE

Richland

Columbia
4/7/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Road
4/7/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., USC-School of Law (Spring), University of SC, 701 Main St.
4/8/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., AgFirst Farm Credit Bank – Bank of America Plaza, 1901 Main St.
4/13/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Keenan High School, 361 Pisgah Church Road
4/13/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Palmetto Health Greystone, 293 Greystone Blvd.
4/14/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Palmetto Health Home Care, 1400 Pickens St.
4/17/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Shandon United Methodist, 3407 Devine St.
4/17/2016: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road
4/18/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thomas Cooper Library, USC Thomas Cooper Library, 1322 Greene St.
4/18/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Northeast United Methodist Church, 4000 Hard Scrabble Road
4/20/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hammond School, 854 Galway Lane
4/24/2016: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Our Lady Of The Hills Catholic Church, 120 Marydale Lane
4/25/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Heyward Career Center, 3560 Lynhaven Drive
4/27/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Health & Human Services, 1801 Main St.
4/28/2016: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Richland Northeast High School Gym Spring drive, 7500 Brookfield Road

Hopkins
4/29/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lower Richland High School, 2615 Lower Richland Blvd.

Sumter

Sumter
4/13/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., University of South Carolina Sumter, 200 Miller Road
4/13/2016: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Central Carolina Technical College, 506 N. Guignard Drive
4/30/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., First Church of God, 1835 Camden Highway

To learn more about volunteering for American Red Cross visit, http://www.redcross.org/local/sc/volunteer