“ Rock River Valley Blood Center appreciates the Governor's support and recognition of the need to maintain an adequate and safe blood supply in the state of Illinois, especially as we enter the summer months when, historically, blood collections are lower and activities resulting in the need for blood increase,” said Linda Gerber, CEO of Rock River Valley Blood Center. The legislation was supported by the American Red Cross and blood centers throughout the state. Blagojevich has signed it and I believe it will help save lives.” “It’s a great bill and I was proud to help sponsor it,” said Sen. The woman was aware of the provision for state workers and felt that if the benefit were extended to other workers in the state, more people would donate blood. Rita said the bill was prompted by a constituent who often donated blood without the benefit of getting paid leave. I sincerely hope that more employers will organize drives and take advantage of their new ability to give workers time to donate." "Every operation and organ transplant requires a large amount of blood. “The need for blood donations is serious and shortages affect our local community blood banks," said Rep. But, less than 5 percent of the eligible population actually donates blood. According to the American Red Cross, under normal circumstances, every two seconds someone in America will need a blood transfusion. The need for blood not only arises after a catastrophe, but is constantly needed for surgeries and accident victims, as well as for cancer patients and those undergoing dialysis. For May alone, the Center was down 573 pints of blood, and for the year they are short 2,500 pints.īecause blood has a 42-day shelf life, it is important to keep a continual blood supply on hand. The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, which serves 34 counties in western Illinois, eastern Iowa, and southwestern Wisconsin, reports similar drops in inventory levels. At current levels, any major trauma could wipe the blood bank out of universal donor O-negative, the most commonly used type in traumas and accidents. Chicago’s LifeSource, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in Illinois, needs 1500 donors a day in order to maintain a stable blood supply. While employees must still give workers permission to take the hour off, having it in statute codifies its importance.īlood centers across the state are currently experiencing a dangerous shortage in blood inventory. I believe this will do the same for the private sector and local government employees.”Įmployees will be allowed to donate blood every 56 days if approval is granted from his or her employer. “The Organ Donor Leave Act has been effective in encouraging state employees to donate blood. We want to make sure that people who are willing to contribute to our emergency blood supply get the opportunity to do it,” Gov. “ When you, your family member or your loved one has medical trouble, you want to know that there will be enough blood to treat them. The legislation is modeled after the Organ Donor Leave Act, which gives state employees time off to donate blood and organs. Haine (D-Alton), creates the Employee Blood Donation Leave Act, which allows local government and private sector full-time employees who work for companies with more than 50 employees to take an hour of paid leave to donate blood. Blagojevich today signed legislation to allow employees to take up to an hour off work to donate blood. It is vitally important to help the area where you live by giving blood that will be used to benefit your friends and neighbors.SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to encourage more people to give blood, Gov. “We’re having a difficult time keeping our shelves stocked, and since we’re the sole provider of blood to area hospitals, a blood shortage impacts us locally. “We came out of the Memorial Day weekend in dire need of help from our donors,” CBCO Executive Director Anthony Roberts said. There are limited opportunities to give this week at mobile blood drive in the service region, but it remains vitally important to continue to see increased donation levels at CBCO’s four donor centers until further notice. More than 6,500 donations have been lost. Most of the organization’s mobile blood drives for the months of April and May were cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible donors are strongly urged to give immediately. Increased local usage and blood drive cancellations continue, with blood reserves below one-day levels for all blood types. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO), the sole supplier of blood and plasma to all area hospitals, issued a critical appeal for all blood types.
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