Illinois
ALERT: Illinois Experiencing Emergency Blood Shortage
Patient Care at Risk, Versiti Blood Center of Illinois Issues Plea for Donors
CHICAGO, June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types have less than a day’s worth of availability, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations have plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,963 appointments missed in the past month alone.
All blood types are needed, with O-positive and O-negative being the most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be safely received by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.
“We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. “Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”
In addition to unfilled appointments and a rise in cancellations and no-shows, Versiti’s partner hospitals have required a significant volume of blood this past month to support organ transplant procedures and other traumas.
“The demand for blood simply does not match the number of donors coming through our doors,” added Waxman. “While we deeply appreciate our loyal donors who consistently show up, it’s important to recognize that about 3 percent of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do. If it’s been a while since your last donation or you’re a first-time donor, we are excited to welcome you.”
What happens if blood is not available for patients?
- When the local blood inventory gets as low as it is now, it jeopardizes the health and safety of patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions. In some cases, hospitals are forced to postpone surgeries or delay critical treatments.
- Trauma victims from car accidents or shootings are at the highest risk, as their survival often depends on a healthy blood inventory. If these types of cases occur in the coming days, we might not have the blood needed to keep them alive.
- Patients undergoing organ transplants and battling cancer, and even mothers in labor, could face treatment delays or complications due to a limited blood supply.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call (800) 786-4483 or visit versiti.org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.
Donor center locations:
- WESTMONT: 6317 S. Fairview Ave.
- TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial Cir.
- BLOOMINGDALE: 398 W. Army Trail Rd.
- NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper Blvd.
- WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva Rd.
- JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson St.
- GENEVA: 2000 W. State St., Unit 1E
- AURORA: 1200 N. Highland Ave.
- ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean Blvd.
- CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest Hwy.
- YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans Pkwy., Suite 112
- DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Rd.
- HIGHLAND: 2126 45th St.
Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone aged 16 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors aged 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.
About Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Aurora, IL. that specializes in blood products and services and provides expert medical and technical support. Founded in 1943, it is the oldest blood center in Illinois and serves patients at more than 85 hospitals in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. It operates 12 donor centers and conducts nearly 2,200 blood drives annually at area hospitals, churches, businesses, schools and community centers. To learn more, visit versiti.org.
SOURCE Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
The Chicago Bears released a statement on Wednesday after Illinois legislators took a step forward with keeping the team in the state.
Shortly after the bill passed out of a House committee 15-5 and then was passed again by the full House, the Bears said the bill is not enough for them.
“We welcome the progress made on the House’s version of the mega project bill; however, additional amendments are necessary to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for our stadium project. We support Illinois leaders as they determine the path forward to making the essential changes to the mega project bill and aligning on infrastructure funding,” the team said in a statement.
The vote on Wednesday came after lawmakers spent weeks working to address concerns and criticism that the bill provided incentives to the team to leave Chicago and surrounding potential revenue shortfalls to area schools if the stadium is built in Arlington Heights.
Despite the team’s dissatisfaction, the megaprojects bill, which would allow the Bears to negotiate property tax payments directly with the Village of Arlington Heights, is headed now to the Senate.
A key piece of legislation designed to keep the Chicago Bears’ stadium project in Illinois is being weighed, and Rose Schmidt has details on what’s in it.
That said, the bill’s lead Senate sponsor State Sen. Bill Cunningham told NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern that legislators “feel no pressure to take a vote next week” when the Senate returns on Tuesday.
“We will work this bill like any other bill,” Cunningham said.
Though the team is not satisfied with the deal, it seems Illinois Governor Pritzker is.
“Governor Pritzker has been clear and consistent for years that the Bears should remain in Illinois, and that any legislation needs to protect taxpayers. Throughout the past few months, the Governor’s Office brought team leadership, local officials, and legislative partners to the table to craft a deal around public infrastructure improvements, property tax fairness, and affordability measures. Today is an important step, and the Governor’s Office looks forward to working with the Illinois General Assembly to advance a bill that reflects our shared priorities,” Pritzker’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.
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