In the aftermath of Sunday’s massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, blood collection clinics were overwhelmed with people volunteering to roll up their sleeves to donate the gift of life. “It was their gift, their donation that was on the shelf when those patients arrived in ambulances”, says Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center’s Kirby Winn. The imposed rule prohibited men from donating blood for 12 months after they had sex with other men. Now, men who have sex with men are allowed to donate after not having sex with another man for one year. “We need to replace them”, said Dr Peter Flanagan of the NZ Blood Service.
Advertisement
“Every day we need to see 550 donors, the need doesn’t go away in the summer time, so it’s a chance for us to say that and remind people that we won’t be prepared without their help”, Fagan said.
However, members of the LGBT community in Florida have expressed their sorrow at the ban. “So it is very frustrating”, Domenico was quoted as saying.
“If I can help again, I would like to be able to do that”, blood donor, Carla Womack said.
On its website Sunday afternoon, the American Red Cross said it is coordinating with emergency responders and coordinating some support for Orlando hospitals.
“It’s O negative what we sent”, Guarino said. The tragedy is a harsh reminder of the importance of blood donors that give in advance of the need.
The Jewish Community Center on South River Street in Wilkes-Barre held a blood drive on Wednesday.
LifeShare Blood Centers regularly supplies blood components to 117 medical facilities throughout Louisiana, East Texas and South Arkansas.
The news has been released to coincide with World Blood Donor Day, which highlights the importance of blood donation across the globe.
Advertisement
You are banned from donating if you have lived in the United Kingdom, France or the Republic of Ireland between 1980 and 1996 for a cumulative six months or more, because some people there harboured the infectious agent of the human form of mad cow disease (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).
