Blood donations, church vigil planned in Kitsap | Update

Are you, your church, your workplace or non-profit doing something to help the victims of the Las Vegas, Nevada mass shooting? Email us at rwalker@soundpublishing.com

SILVERDALE — Bloodworks Northwest in Silverdale is collecting blood donations for the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bloodworks Northwest is at 3230 NW Randall Way, Silverdale. Call 360-308-7340 or go to schedule.bloodworksNW.org to schedule an appointment.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joe Lombardo said at 10 a.m. Oct. 2 that at least 58 people have died and 515 people were injured. There was only one attacker and his motive was unknown, Lombardo reported.

At least two Kitsap gaming officials in Vegas, uninjured

Port Gamble S’Klallam and Suquamish Tribe gaming officials were in Las Vegas but uninjured in the mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Nic’cola Armstrong, director of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe Gaming Agency, and Chris Archunde, marketing director of Port Madison Enterprises, are in Las Vegas for the Global Gaming Expo at the Sands, Suquamish Tribe spokeswoman April Leigh said Oct. 2. Both were safe, she said.

Toll-free line for those wanting to check on relatives

KOMO News reported that those who have not heard from loved ones in Las Vegas can call 1-866-535-5654.

Mass shooting ‘has shaken us all to our core’

Gov. Jay Inslee issued this statement Oct. 2 in response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas.

“It’s difficult to conceive of the horrific violence suffered in Las Vegas last night. Trudi and I, and all Washingtonians, pray for the hundreds wounded or fighting now for their lives, and grieve for the dozens killed.

“Law enforcement responded with incredible courage, and responders immediately began treating the hundreds of victims. There are already heroic stories emerging of strangers protecting those near them during the shooting.

“We can draw inspiration from those stories as we heal together in the days and weeks to come. This horrific act has shaken us all to our core.”

Sanctuary open

First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo opened the doors of its sanctuary Oct. 2 to the general public in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting.

Residents are welcome to use the sanctuary between noon and 4:30 p.m. for meditation, prayer and candle-lighting.

Blood donations

In partnership with the United Blood Services in Las Vegas, Bloodworks Northwest is offering emergency blood components for medical treatment of people injured in the Oct. 1 shooting.

“We know that a large number of patients will need treatment and ongoing care,” Bloodworks Northwest President and CEO Dr. James P. AuBuchon said in an announcement of the collection. “We expect to be called upon and stand ready to assist immediately with emergency shipments.”

UBS advised that while their immediate hospital requirements are being met, additional supplies will be needed.

“We’re urging local donors who have not donated recently — regulars and first-timers — to help us build strong local inventories by donating this week so we can be ready to respond when shipments to Las Vegas are needed to help victims of this tragedy,” AuBuchon said.

Responding to emergencies, whether local or national, requires blood that is already collected, tested, on the shelves and ready for immediate use, Bloodworks Northwest reported. When disasters happen and emergency transfusions are required, the need is acute for most-common Type O blood, platelets and universal AB plasma.

“While our primary mission supports local patients, when catastrophes happen we do whatever we can to help — even when local supplies are as tight as they’ve been in recent weeks,” AuBuchon said. “Whether the need is local or somewhere else, we need to be able to respond instantly — and for that we need stronger inventories all the time.

Donors can also can check online at BloodworksNW.org to find dates and times of mobile drives close to where they live or work.

Bloodworks Northwest (formerly Puget Sound Blood Center) is local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported and community-based. Bloodworks serves patients in more than 90 hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, partnering with local hospitals to deliver patient care. Comprehensive services include blood components, complex cross-matching, specialized lab services for organ transplants, care for patients with blood disorders, and collection of cord blood stem cells for cancer treatment.

The U.S. flag was lowered Oct. 2 to half-staff outside Poulsbo City Hall. (Nick Twietmeyer/Kitsap News Group)

The U.S. flag was lowered Oct. 2 to half-staff outside Poulsbo City Hall. (Nick Twietmeyer/Kitsap News Group)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joe Lombardo said at 10 a.m. Oct. 2 that at least 58 people have died and 515 people were injured. There was only one attacker, and his motive was unknown. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Facebook)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joe Lombardo said at 10 a.m. Oct. 2 that at least 58 people have died and 515 people were injured. There was only one attacker, and his motive was unknown. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Facebook)