World Blood Donor Day is this Friday.
This is especially important as the United States is experiencing its worst blood shortage in 20 years, according to the American Red Cross.
Part of that is because one in four adults have a fear of needles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But there is new technology that is helping people overcome this fear.
Blood donor Maggie Schmidt utilized a mixed-reality blood donation experience from Abbott and Blood Centers of America.
Schmidt spoke to Spectrum News 1‘s Mercedes Williams about how the mixed-reality experience works and where it is available.
“Mixed-reality technology is a lightweight headset blood donors can wear and it’s similar to virtual reality, but the difference is that you can still see your surroundings while also being immersed in this virtual reality experience. And by the time I was done donating blood, I hadn’t even finished building my Zen garden, which is the experience that Abbott and Blood Centers of America are utilizing to help promote this.”