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Lake County adopts National Blood Donor Month proclamation; American Red Cross urges donations as supplies run low
Summary
The council declared January National Blood Donor Month and heard from an American Red Cross representative warning of a severe winter shortfall in the blood supply; the county plans a joint blood drive with ABC7 Chicago and will encourage office and public participation.
The Lake County Council unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing January as National Blood Donor Month and heard an update from the American Red Cross on a severe winter blood shortage.
Council members moved and seconded a resolution urging residents to donate and acknowledging the role of diverse, regular donors in maintaining the blood supply. The measure passed by voice vote.
Ashley, representing the American Red Cross, told the council the Red Cross is approaching a “severe” shortage and that winter weather and higher trauma volumes increase demand while donations decline. She reviewed practical details for donors: minimum age to donate is 16, whole-blood donors may give every 56 days, and alternate procedures (power red) have different intervals. Ashley said donations can be counted as community service and that nearly every high school in the county partners with the Red Cross.
Lake County will partner with the ABC7 Chicago blood drive and is planning a county blood drive in the coming months; county officials asked each office to participate and asked staff to circulate signup information. Council members asked about scheduling, and the Red Cross said further messaging and sign-up details will be released soon.
The council passed the proclamation and thanked the Red Cross for the briefing.
