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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, September 15 through October 15 marks National |
| 3 | | Hispanic Heritage Month; and
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| 4 | | WHEREAS, Our State's hospitals and surgery centers rely on |
| 5 | | a continual safe supply of 100% donated blood; and
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| 6 | | WHEREAS, Although Latinos make up 17% of the general |
| 7 | | population nationwide, they make up less than 4% of blood |
| 8 | | donors; and
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| 9 | | WHEREAS, The Latino population has a high percentage of |
| 10 | | type O blood, which is in high demand since it can be |
| 11 | | transfused to patients with other blood types; Latino blood |
| 12 | | also contains important antibodies, unique to the Latino |
| 13 | | population, making their donations especially vital to other |
| 14 | | Latinos in need of an exact antigen match for a transfusion; |
| 15 | | and
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| 16 | | WHEREAS, A single unit of blood can save up to 3 lives, |
| 17 | | while a single trauma patient can use over 100 units of blood; |
| 18 | | and
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| 19 | | WHEREAS, Blood only has a shelf life of 42 days; and
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| | HR0776 | - 2 - | LRB099 14389 GRL 38485 r |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Blood centers rely heavily not only on blood |
| 2 | | donated on their premises, but on blood drives organized |
| 3 | | throughout their communities by volunteers; and
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| 4 | | WHEREAS, Blood can be donated every 56 days and can improve |
| 5 | | the health of the donor by reducing excess iron and encouraging |
| 6 | | the body to produce more blood; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes the importance of |
| 8 | | blood donation through the Blood Donation Act, the Employee |
| 9 | | Blood Donation Leave Act, and the Organ Donor Leave Act; |
| 10 | | therefore, be it
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| 11 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
| 12 | | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we |
| 13 | | encourage the Latino community in the State to share its unique |
| 14 | | gift of life by donating blood; and be it further
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| 15 | | RESOLVED, That we further encourage Latino businesses, |
| 16 | | churches, and other organizations to consider hosting a blood |
| 17 | | drive in their community and urge community colleges, colleges, |
| 18 | | universities, and trade schools to host blood drives and |
| 19 | | participate in the National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive |
| 20 | | Scholarship Challenge; and be it further
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| 21 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |