After Orlando Massacre, Venture Blood Centers See Influx Of Visitors
It comes down to people wanting to help after a tragedy, Tony Briggs, biomedical spokesman for the American Red Cross says. "A lot of people might not have money to donate, but they say, 'I can give blood.'" Meanwhile, Democrats want to move on getting rid of the donation ban for gay men.
Ventura County Star:
Orlando Attack Motivates Ventura County Residents To Give Blood
The Pulse club, where the massacre happened, is more than 2,200 miles away. And while United Blood Services officials cited a local shortage in issuing an urgent appeal for donations, it's unlikely blood given here will be part of the front-line response to those wounded in the Orlando incident.
Still, people across Ventura County rolled up their sleeves and gave. (Kisken, 6/14)
The Hill:
Dems Consider More FDA Funding To End Ban On Gay Blood Donors
Top House Democrats are eying more funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help speed up the agency’s effort to eliminate the decades-old policy preventing many gay men from donating blood. (Ferris, 6/14)
In other news, the Delta Blood Bank is facing a critically low supply —
Capital Public Radio:
Delta Blood Bank Blood Supply Dropped To Critical Level
The Delta Blood Bank in Stockton is putting out a call for donations as their blood supply has dipped to a critical level. Daily donations have dropped by 50 percent. Delta Blood Bank serves 11 hospitals in El Dorado, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and San Joaquin County. Normally it sees 200 to 250 donations per day, but donations always start dropping as summer approaches. (Ibarra, 6/14)