Hospital group seeks equipment donations

SPRINGFIELD - The leader of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association asked other industries to donate masks, gloves, gowns and other personal protective equipment to the more than 200 hospitals across the state as they treat patients for the coronavirus.

Health care workers are "in jeopardy of potentially running out" of those supplies," A.J. Wilhelmi, the association's president, said in a statement Thursday.

"With continuing uncertainties about global and U.S. supplies of face masks, we urgently need to find alternative supplies, no matter where they are, so our hospitals can continue to provide lifesaving care to current and future COVID-19 patients," he said.

Wilhelmi sent a request to dentists, veterinarians, construction companies and others who might have stockpiles of such equipment, which protect nurses, doctors and other health care personnel when treating and evaluating patients.