Red Cross issues urgent call for more blood donations in January – National & International News – MON 15Jan2024

Red Cross issues urgent call for more blood donations in January.

Iowa: Hero principal dies after school shooting.

Yemen: Houthis attack American shipping for the first time after US-led air strikes. 

NATIONAL NEWS

Red Cross issues urgent call for more blood donations in January

The American Red Cross has declared a blood shortage emergency following a steady decline in the number and frequency of donations in recent years. Over the holidays demand for blood from hospitals for surgeries and emergency procedures far outpaced donations.  Dr. Eric Gehrie, Red Cross executive physician director, says there has been a 40% decline in donations over the last two decades. The problem worsened during the pandemic when demand for blood was high but there were few blood drives.

Currently, the Red Cross collects about 84,000 blood donations and 21,000 platelets from volunteers each week. To fully meet the need from hospitals and clinics, Gehrie says they need about 8,000 more donations each week in January.

Last year, in recognition of declining donations, the Food and Drug Administration lifted a long-standing ban on blood donations from gay men that dated back to the AIDS crisis. The news spurred a short-lived increase in donations both from gay men and other members of the LGBT+ community. The Red Cross also recognized that young people were less likely to be regular donors than older people. The charity held a promotion last year encouraging young people to come in and donate in exchange for a t-shirt featuring the comic strip character Snoopy. However, this drive also yielded only a short-term gain in new donors and the Red Cross has no further plans to reach out to young people.

This month, the Red Cross hoping to drive more donations by offering donors a chance to win Super Bowl tickets. There are also some surprising health benefits for regular blood donors. 

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

Iowa: Hero principal dies of injuries after protecting students during shooting

Principal Dan Marburger of Perry High School in Iowa has succumbed to his injuries after heroically attempting to calm and disarm a gunman at his school. Marburger multiple gunshot wounds during the Jan. 4 shooting. The gunman, identified as 17-year-old student Dylan Butler later took his own life. An 11-year-old, Ahmir Joliff, also died from three gunshot wounds.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced his death yesterday in a statement. “Our entire state is devastated by the news of Dan Marburger’s death. Kevin and I offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family as we pray for their comfort during this very difficult time,” Reynolds said. “Dan courageously put himself in harm’s way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. May he rest in peace”.

Reynolds also ordered all flags flown in Iowa to remain at half-mast from Sunday until sundown on the day of Marburger’s funeral.

Marburger worked in the Perry school system for more than 20 years and was beloved in the community. His daughter Claire remembers him as a “gentle giant” and an “amazing Dad and just amazing person”.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Yemen: Houthis attack American shipping for the first time after US-led air strikes

On early Friday morning and again early Saturday morning, the US and UK carried out multiple air strikes in Yemen. This was in retaliation for over two dozen attacks on ships in the Red Sea carried out by the Houthi group which controls part of Yemen. The Houthis, who call themselves Ansar Allah (“Supporters of God”), declared war on Israel in mid-November weeks into Israel’s intensive bombing campaign in Gaza. Since then, the Houthis have fired missiles and drones at ships passing through their waters at the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This is a vitally important shipping corridor that leads to the Suez Canal.

In December, the US formed a naval coalition with several countries dubbed “Operation Prosperity Guardian” to discourage Houthi attacks on shipping. Most of the other coalition nations have since dropped out. 

Until today, the only commercial vessels the Houthis attacked were either doing business at Israeli ports or were owned by Israelis. Today they targeted the Marshall Islands-flagged Gibraltar Eagle container ship. Since the ship is part-owned by a US entity, this was likely retaliation for the recent air strikes.

The Gibraltar Eagle reported no injuries and no major damage. However, the strike was likely the Houthis’ way of sending a message to the US that their strikes had not diminished the group’s resolve nor degraded their tactical capabilities.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).