American Red Cross teams with actor James Van Der Beek and wife, Kimberly, for donations

Every two seconds someone is in need of a blood transfusion, according to the American Red Cross.

Actor James Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, was one of those people.

She experienced back-to-back miscarriages which required blood transfusions.

The couple has collaborated with the American Red Cross to urge blood, platelet or plasma donations. James and Kimberly Van Der Beek are national spokespeople for the organization.

“Donating blood is something that I’ve always done throughout my life,” James Van Der Beek said in a statement. “It seemed important. But I never knew how important until the woman I love most was in a situation where that much blood made the difference between life and death. It just brought it home in a very real way.”

According to the American Red Cross, hemorrhaging is the leading cause of pregnancy-related complications.

“They are great to have on board,” said Lisa Landis, director of communications and marketing for the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania region. “Having them is two-fold. People know him as the star of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and they also shared their story of how blood donors make a difference. I think that makes it more relatable.”

Whole blood lasts for 42 days. It has to come from healthy donors and diverse blood types.

All blood types are needed.

The Red Cross said that those who have received a covid-19 vaccine can donate. They will be asked which one they received.

Find out more on the American Red Cross website, Landis said.

Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, via the website or by phone at 1-800-733-2767.

Those who donate in May will be entered to win a camper powered by Suburban Propane.

The Red Cross is also giving away T-shirts from May 28 to June 13.

The Red Cross is also testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for covid-19 antibodies and screening African American donors for the sickle cell trait.

This additional screening will help identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease, the Red Cross said. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease.