The hundreds of people wounded in Sunday night’s mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert needed blood for treatment, so local residents rolled up their sleeves.
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Following Sunday night’s attack, which left at least 58 dead and 515 injured, authorities voiced concerns over a possible blood shortage and put out calls on social media urging people to donate.
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Waiting rooms filled up, and lines stretched outside blood donation clinics in the city, as some waited for hours to give blood for hospitals inundated with victims.
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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provided information on where residents could give blood.
These were the resulting scenes at United Blood Services centres:
Many on social media said they waited around four hours for their turn, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal noted the lines included “hundreds” of people.
The response was so overwhelming that the City of Las Vegas eventually asked residents to make appointments before showing up to blood services locations.
The Review-Journal later reported that even appointment slots were filled up until next Monday.
A 53-year-old resident, Fred Roy, told the Review-Journal that he decided to donate blood because he wasn’t sure how else to help.
“There’s a lot of good people who care about their city and visitors who come here,” Roy said.
“This is Vegas!!!!” one Twitter user wrote, posting a photo of a line outside a United Blood Services location.
According to KTNV News, residents formed lines outside clinics, even before they opened their doors for the day.
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“People have been here all night waiting for it to open,” one reporter said.
The hashtag #VegasStrong also emerged on Twitter, along with #DonateBlood, as people raised awareness about the need.
“I grew up and spent most of my life in Las Vegas. Prayers are not what they need now, and aren’t going to help,” actor Dustin Knouse tweeted, using the hashtag #DonateBlood.
In an interview with Bustle, Julie Scott, a spokeswoman for United Blood Services said the need for blood is currently satisfied.
Scott added she hopes people will continue to give throughout the year, as they did for those in need this time.
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