GENEVA—State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) is encouraging healthy constituents in the 65th District to donate blood to help prevent a blood supply shortage.
Rep. Ugaste participated in the #GiveBloodChallenge, launched by the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers, to challenge people to donate blood, post on social media, and tag 10 of their friends to do the same.
“These are unprecedented times with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting too many in our state,” said Rep. Ugaste. “Those of us who remain healthy can help out in a variety of ways, and donating blood is just one of them. I am encouraging those that can, to do so.”
With the spread of COVID-19 and the closure of schools and businesses, hundreds of blood drives across the state have been cancelled. Community blood centers, which supply nearly 70% of blood to Illinois hospitals, are running low on supply. This is putting patients in need of blood at great risk.
According to the ICCBC, the screening process takes about 15 minutes and the actual blood donation portion takes 5-10 minutes, but your efforts can mean a lifetime to those in need. To make an appointment to donate blood at your nearest center visit: www.americasblood.org.
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