David Windrow, the first Municipal Fire Chief of Nolensville, has first-hand experience in receiving life-saving blood donations and knows the impact donating blood can have on a person.  

“I’m thankful to be here because during my cancer treatment at Sarah Cannon I used a lot of blood so that means that somebody out there saved my life during this process,” he said. 

By donating blood, the Chief says donors can save multiple lives in an instant. The time commitment only takes less than a half-hour with an appointment.   

“Every day, there is a need locally for blood whether it’s a burn victim at Vanderbilt, or a cancer patient at Sarah Cannon, like me who is a cancer survivor, or a mother who is having a difficult pregnancy at St. Thomas Midtown,” he said. “There is a need constantly. The need is real, whether it’s plasma, platelets or whole blood.” 

The need for blood is also heightened during a time of crisis whether a natural disaster, mass shooting or during one of the most horrific days in U.S. history, Sept. 11, 2001.   

“What we learned that day [9/11] is bad things can happen in an instant,” the Chief said. “We unfortunately know that in our business, but some people don’t, and there are things outside your control that you just don’t know.”  

“Just because you don’t wear a badge doesn’t mean you can’t be a hero,” he said. “What we can do is roll up our sleeves and give some blood to safe somebody’s life. How often can you do such a simple act and have such a significant impact in the world and instantly save lives? It’s your neighbors, not just somebody in a far-away place. It’s right here in town, in the Middle Tennessee area.” 

Blood drive safety  

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.  

Save time during donation  

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.