NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — There are now four blood vending machines inside Sentara Norfolk General Hospital as part of a pilot project to give doctors safe and fast access to blood products. "I know our ED is very thankful to have it," said Transfusion Services Manager Christie McGhee. "It is within steps of their trauma bay beds." McGhee showed us how easy it is for staff to quickly get the life-saving fluid. She just scanned her badge, then scanned the patient ID and chose how much she needed.The refrigerator, she said, does the rest. It lights up the spots for the blood that's most compatible. "The blood bank is not close to the O.R. It's not close to the ED either," McGhee said. "So having this kind of remote blood bank for their access is a gamechanger for them." Before the vending machines were installed in December, a runner would be sent to the hospital's blood bank. "We are a Level 1 trauma center. Sometimes there are cases where blood is needed more urgently than others, so if you're able to get that blood product a minute faster, that makes a difference," said Vice President of Lab Services for Sentara Health, Ian Noga. Sentara Norfolk General alone does more than 2,200 transfusions per month. "So we always want to ensure we have enough blood on hand," Noga said. Blood has a shelf life of about one month, so even though they keep it really cold, they can't keep it for very long. That's why Noga encourages people to donate and donate often. You can roll up your sleeve at any Red Cross donation center or blood driveand, who knows, the lives you save may start with a trip to the vending machine.