Importance of donating blood year-round

The mass shooting in Orlando prompted hundreds of blood donors Sunday in Florida.

The Blood Bank of Delmarva says their organization has reached out to offer assistance; however, it appears Orlando blood banks currently have a sufficient supply.

We’re told local residents here can still help out. The Blood Bank of Delmarva does have the ability to ship blood in cases of emergencies but to do that, they need to have enough to supply the local hospitals here first.

Michael Waite, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, for the Blood Bank of Delmarva says the organization serves 18 hospitals and about 20,000 patients every year.

“Even though you get such an outpouring of emotion and an outpouring of support once a tragedy strikes, what has saved those people that were injured in Orlando was the fact that their hospitals had blood on the shelves,” Waite says. “That’s the same thing that we have to make sure of each and everyday.”

Waite says it’s more challenging to get donations during the summertime with one reason being because schools are not in session, so there are aren’t as many blood drives held in general.

For a list of where you can donate, click here.