LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nine years after the 1 October shooting, blood donated months before the tragedy and already sitting on hospital shelves helped save dozens of lives that night.
Vitalant held a blood drive Thursday at City National Arena, honoring the victims of the 1 October shooting.
Survivor credits donated blood with saving her life
Natalie Grumet survived the 1 October shooting.
“The next thing I knew, there was an explosion in my face. I felt the worst pain of my life,” Grumet said.
The damage to her face was so severe Grumet described her husband finding her at the hospital and recognized her only because of a braid in her hair.
“They did an emergency PICC line into my groin, and he said they just started hanging bags,” Grumet said.
Grumet was barely clinging to life when she reached the hospital. She credits the donated blood with saving her.
“I just feel so grateful for those who donated blood. Strangers I’ll never know… these people donated months before this tragedy happened,” Grumet said.
Keeping blood in stock
Nicole Shultz, communications manager for Vitalant, said keeping blood in stock matters.
“It was blood already on hospital shelves that really helped save lives,” Shultz said.
Paramedic Matthew Pokorny also helped save lives that night.
“It was something we were prepared for, but something we didn’t want to have to do,” Pokorny said.
Pokorny remembers the hundreds of people who showed up to donate in the days after the shooting.
FOX5’s Victoria Saha asked Pokorny if he sees for himself how crucial blood donation is.
“Oh, absolutely. I’m a firefighter for Clark County, and we have a blood program, but sometimes we don’t have it available,” Pokorny said.
More than 200 people showed up Thursday at City National Arena to donate, including survivors, first responders and neighbors.
Vitalant encourages donations year-round.
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