GEORGETOWN, Del. - Sussex County's Department of Public Safety is hosting its second annual Sussex County Public Safety Mobile Blood Drive on Friday.
In partnership with the Blood Bank of Delmarva, people can sign up to donate blood from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sussex County Department of Public Safety located at 21911 Rudder Lane in Georgetown.
Click here to sign up to donate.
A room full of people were seen pitching in to help save a life in the future.
One of them, Karen Towers, who stopped by the Sussex County Public Safety Complex to donate whole blood.
"I'm donating because of the need for O-negative blood. I know it's a big need in this county. The EMS trucks are taking it out live on the trucks, so I felt the need to give," Towers shared.
Today marks two years since Sussex County EMS started carrying whole blood when responding to trauma calls.
Jordan Datolli, Field Coordinator for Sussex County EMS, says when it comes to doing everything they can to save lives, whole blood is a game changer.
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"I would tell you that people that were on the brink of death, actively dying in front of us, they're not awake, they're not talking to us, and we're able to give them whole blood. They wake up and they start asking us questions before they even get to the hospital," Datolli explained.
Charles Tennerman is a paramedic and felt it was important to donate, even on his day off.
"If we're going to tell other people that we think they should donate and need to do it, then I think we need to try to practice what you preach and do the same as well," said Tennerman.
Dattoli says the summer season is the perfect time to donate.
"People travel here during the summer. So with that influx of people is the influx of demand for whole blood. Certainly, it is the trauma season."
Tony Prado, Communications Cpecialist for Blood Bank of Delmarva says the whole state will soon be on board with carrying whole blood.
"Credit to Sussex County EMS, my colleague Jordan, to totally get the ball rolling. Sussex County Public Safety Director Bobby Murray, they brought us something that made us think about a new way of delivering blood to the Delmarva community," Prado shared.
"It's just been exciting to see it grow and become such a powerful force. It's not done in a lot of parts of the country. We're an elite company, and it's something that you hope will spread to the rest of the U.S.," he continued.
Saving lives one volunteer at a time.