Nebraska retiree has donated his platelets more than 700 times

When he retired in 1995, Sherman Hirsch discovered something he could do with his newfound free time: donating his platelets.

Since then, the 89-year-old Nebraska resident has donated his platelets more than 700 times, joking with Good Morning America that he is "definitely on a first name basis" with the staff at his local Red Cross.

While still working as a teacher, Hirsch regularly donated blood after school. It takes longer to donate platelets, about three hours, and Hirsch comes in to do this every other Monday morning. "I decided this is something I can do to help out other people and I've always been blessed with good health," he told GMA. "It's easy to do and it doesn't cost me anything."

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The Red Cross says that platelets, tiny cells in the blood that form clots and stop bleeding, are needed every 15 seconds in the United States to help people fighting cancer, traumatic injuries, and chronic diseases. They can only be stored for up to five days, meaning new donors are constantly needed. Donating platelets has become "part of my life," Hirsch said, and he encourages "anyone to do it. If you don't have a lot of time, you can at least go in every eight weeks and donate blood."