Donations urgently needed at blood center

[TechBear_Seattle]

Donations urgently needed at blood center

The Puget Sound Blood Center is facing a shortage of about 1,000 pints of blood, a need that developed the past 12 days because snow and ice prevented hundreds of Western Washington residents from donating.

In response to the 20 percent drop in supply, the center started special donation hours beginning Sunday and lasting through this week with the hope people will be able to safely leave their homes to give blood, spokesman Michael Young said.

"If we don't replenish what we're sending to hospitals, we will continue to see an inventory that is depleted," he said. "There could come a time when we might not have the blood for a hospital that needs it."

In particular, the center has a two-day "critical" supply of O- and O+ blood, as well as a one-day "emergency supply" of B- blood, Young said.

The article continues at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/393923_blood29.html

Why is this relevant to the GLBT Forum?, I hear you asking. Federal regulations prohibit accepting donations from any man who has ever had sex with another man. In other words, no matter how bad the blood shortage, men who have sex with men -- gay, bisexual and even straight guys to experimented at some point in their lives -- are considered tainted, unhealthy and unsuited for something so important. Despite me being one of the rarer blood types (A-), I am forever banned from being a donor. Sure, I could lie, but I'm not going back into the closet, not even for something so important.

Added: A bit more about the regulations

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/23/fda-blood/