(DC)- The government shutdown is putting blood donations across the region at risk. Nonprofit health organization Inova said that a big chunk of its donors are federal employees in DC and that it has already canceled several blood collection events. The organization added that it will lose more than 500 units of blood from government partners in January alone. The donated blood is used for life or death situations including surgeries, cancer and traumatic injuries. INOVA will need 500 to 600 donors next month to make up for the expected losses.
