BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Amid severe blood shortages, Gov. Charlie Baker and the First Lady are urging local residents to donate blood at Red Cross centers during the coronavirus pandemic.
During a visit to the Red Cross donation center in Dedham on Saturday, Gov. Baker said by donating blood, "you are... making it possible for the health care system to deliver for people who have conditions and illnesses and circumstances that are eminently treatable, if the supplies are there and the capacity's there to serve them."
Baker said much of the local hospitals' blood supply comes from local people donating, but with social distancing guidelines in place, locations have been cancelling blood drives all over the state.
However, Baker said the Red Cross has developed a safe way for people to donate blood at its centers during the crisis.
"If you're healthy and you want to do it, please don't be afraid," First Lady Lauren Baker said. "Please make an appointment. Please donate blood. Every effort helps."
Gov. Baker also said given the amount of time that most residents now have on their hands, more people should be able to incorporate a blood donation into their day.
To find your local Red Cross Blood Donation site, click here.
WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports:
(Photo: Getty Images)
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