Blood bank sends help after deadly Georgia school shooting

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - When news broke of the deadly school shooting in Barrow County, Shepeard Blood Center jumped into action sending lifesaving blood and platelet products to various hospitals treating some of the victims.

Shepard Blood says they sent what they could but couldn’t send as much as what was asked for.

Now, they’re calling on more people to come sit in a chair and give back.

You never know who you’ll help.

“We got a special request from Grady Memorial asking for emergency blood products all the way out here to be taken to Atlanta. They received several patients and had an emergency need for blood,” said Benjamin Prijatel, president and CEO of Shepeard Community Blood Center.

It could even help a family right next to you.

Paul Stone, a blood doner, said: “My granddaughter is in one of the elementary schools there, two granddaughters are there in Barrow County. They’re only 10 miles from that high school where the shooting occurred, so they’re upset.”

Luckily, his grandkids are okay.

“They just went into lock down immediately. The whole district locked down,” said Stone.

He just happened to be here donating, which could now help victims from the shooting.

But that isn’t why he came here. It’s just something he does.

“So, the blood that you’re donating could be sent to go help them out,” said Stone. “That’s awesome. That’s neat.”

And in times like these, it’s important to help however you can.

Prijatel said: “And its the blood that’s donated, tested and ready to go on the shelf that helps in an emergency. So, that’s why we try and encourage folks to donate regularly, every 56 days, because we never know when something like this is gonna happen. And unfortunately, it’s a matter of when and not if.”

You can donate this week on Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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