Rep. Sherman Pitches In to Fight Blood Shortage
A severe blood shortage that has left Los Angeles County supplies at levels estimated to be the worst in more than 20 years inspired Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) to roll up his sleeve Monday morning and donate blood.
Sherman filled out the paperwork at Kaiser Permanente near his Woodland Hills office, took off his blazer and then sat back in a recliner, where a technician drew blood from his left arm as Sherman squeezed a rubber ball.
Hospital officials invited Sherman to donate blood as part of a campaign to end the shortage, which is attributed to one of the worst flu outbreaks in a decade combined with the annual drop in donations during and immediately after the holidays, said Dr. Michael Kanter, director of Kaiser’s blood bank.
“It’s been a significant flu season and people are not eligible to donate when they have the flu,” Kanter said. “This is one of the worst shortages I’ve seen.”
Recent news reports of the blood shortage have increased the number of donors, said Darlene Van Maanen, supervisor of Kaiser’s blood donor center.
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