Shepeard Blood Center

Augusta, GA – Shepeard Community Blood Center is throwing a party and all are asked to B.Y.O.B. - Bring Your Own Blood. Patients in our local hospitals are in urgent need of types B and O blood right now. If you donated in the days immediately following the Imperial Sugar Refinery explosion, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO DONATE AGAIN! FOUR BURN VICTIMS ARE STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. Please donate at a Shepeard Center or mobile drive and give the gift of life today.

The demand for type B blood has increased yet the supply has not met the need. We are now dangerously low on B type blood and need your help today. With O negative type blood able to be transfused to anyone, the shortage of B type blood is also decreasing the O blood supply. So…B.Y.O.B – A.S.A.P!

The kind generosity of Bi-Lo, Books-A-Million, O’Charley’s and Outback Steakhouse, will make the party even more lively! Come to any Shepeard Center between April 23rd and April 26th for special gifts from one of these loyal supporters. Please donate or encourage someone who is eligible to help save local lives. More information on times and locations of our mobile units can be found at www.shepeardblood.org.

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Shepeard Community Blood Center locations:

Augusta, GA
1533 Wrightsboro Road
Mon. - Fri., 9-6
Aiken, SC
353 Fabian Drive, Hitchcock Plaza, Aiken
Tues. – Sat., 10-6

Martinez, GA
112 Davis Road
Tues. – Fri., 10-6, Sat., 10-2
Evans, GA
460 North Belair Road
Mon. – Fri., 10-6

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Here are some revealing facts about blood and the need for donations:

Some average usage:

Open heart surgery
2-6 units of red blood cells
2-4 units of plasma
1-10 units of platelets

Automobile Accident
4-40 units of red blood cells

Leukemia
2-6 units of red blood cells
6-8 units of platelets daily for 2-4 weeks

Liver Transplant
6-10 units of red blood cells
20 units of plasma
10 units of platelets

• Every 2 seconds someone needs a blood transfusion.
• 37% of the population is eligible to donate, only 10% do on an annual basis
• About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood.
• One donation can save up to three local lives, since blood can be separated into the components red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
• Studies show that donating blood just 3 times a year may: lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of a heart attack by 50%’, lower your chances of developing colon, lung, bladder and esophageal cancers by 40%. That is because excess iron actually promotes the growth of cancer in the body by producing free radicals and feeding cancer cells. Blood donation is the only practical and effective method for the removal of excess iron. For men with moderate excess iron accumulation, periodic blood donation may help to reduce the iron the body stores to a more healthy level.
• Shepeard’s blood supply: 22% goes to cancer patients, 18% to heart patients.
• Platelets, which have the clotting factor that burn patients and cancer patients need, have a shelf life of 5 days.
• Whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days, plasma, the liquid part of blood, will keep one year if frozen.
• This is Shepeard’s 30th year supplying blood and blood products to area hospitals.
• The blood center is named for Walter Shepeard, a physician in Augusta who wanted to establish a local community blood collection center.
• Anyone who is in good health is at least 16 years old with parental consent – or 17 years or older - and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days.

Each donation gives up to three local people a fighting chance at life. The need for blood is continuous and there is only one source from which to get it – volunteer blood donors. Donate today and give the gift of life to three local people!

On behalf of the patients and families affected by your gift, thank you for your interest in donating blood with Shepeard Community Blood Center. Your generosity and compassion will help the victims of the sugar refinery explosion, as well as patients in 16 local hospitals struggling for a fighting chance at life.
Over the next 3-6 months, the Savannah Sugar Refinery burn victims’ story may slip from the headlines, but their need for your help will be just as immediate as it was the first few days following the tragic accident.  These patients will be facing multiple surgeries in the months ahead and as a result will require tremendous amounts of donated blood and blood products.
To ensure that these patients, as well as all of the local patients in need have blood when necessary, please pledge to help today.   Listed below are upcoming opportunities to donate blood. You are eligible to donate blood every 56 days. For your convenience, we also have four spacious and comfortable donation centers you can visit.

April 21 Spring Blood Give In First Baptist Church of Augusta 3500 Walton Way 10am-8:30pm

May 9 Celebration of Life WAFJ 88.3 Blood Drive At Radio Station or Shepeard Centers 10am-6pm

June 26 Columbia County EMA Drive Evans Government Center Building A, Ronald Reagan Drive 10am-7pm

July 15 2nd Annual Donate for Life UPS Drive 2031 South Centennial Ave. Aiken, SC 8am-8pm

August 22 Blood Give In First Baptist Church of Augusta 3500 Walton Way 10am-8:30pm

Every two seconds someone needs blood.  Blood must be donated and available before it is needed.  You never know when you, or someone you care about, will need blood. 
We look forward to partnering with you to save local lives!   The locations for our mobile drives may be found by clicking the ‘donate blood’ link from our home page, then by clicking on the link:  “View Current Blood Drive Calender”.  The addresses and directions to our centers may be found under “Locations” from our homepage. You may also call us at (706) 737-4551 to learn what drives are scheduled around the time of your eligibility. 
Again, we cannot thank you enough for sharing the precious gift of life and health with those less fortunate.  Every two seconds someone needs blood.  Blood must be donated and available as it is needed.  You never know when you, or someone you care about, will need blood.  We look forward to partnering with you to save local lives!   

URGENT NEED

Blood Types A-, B- and B+

Shepeard Community Blood Center is currently very low on blood types A-, B-, and B+.  In order to meet the needs of patients in our local hospitals, all donors of those blood types are asked to come to one of our centers or mobile locations today.  The locations for our mobile drives may be found by clicking the ‘donate blood’ link from our home page, then by clicking on the link:  “View Current Blood Drive Calender”.  The addresses and directions to our centers may be found under “Locations” from our homepage.

It is estimated that the on-hand supply of these blood types will not meet the demand of the 16 local hospitals Shepeard serves.  Only 6% of the population has type A-, 2% have type B-, and 10% have type B+.  With only 37% of the population eligible to donate blood, this particular is urgent.

One donation typically takes less than an hour of your time, but can save up to three local lives!