Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) encourages blood donors to “beef up” the blood supply prior to the Labor Day holiday. Anyone who gives blood at any OBI donor center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, will receive an all-beef hotdog, courtesy of the Oklahoma Beef Council and Homeland.
Each donor will also receive a choice of the new, 2012 OU or OSU donor T-shirt, along with free health screenings and a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2012 Bedlam football game to be played on Nov. 24. (1) Oklahoma Blood Institute has five metro donor centers, located at:
* Central OKC, 901 N Lincoln Blvd.
* North OKC, 5105 N Portland
* Edmond, 3409 S Broadway, Suite 300
* Midwest City, 1113 S Douglas Blvd., Suite C
* Norman, 1004 24th Avenue NW, Suite 101
Holiday weekends, like Labor Day weekend, often lead to a decline in blood donations, according to Dr. John Armitage, OBI President and CEO.
“This can put the lives of Oklahomans in jeopardy," he said. "Although we have fun with this event, saving lives of our family, friends and neighbors is a serious matter. We are grateful for our partners and donors who have taken time before this holiday weekend to help beef up the blood supply.”
OBI provides every drop of blood used by all metro hospitals, as well as more than 140 medical facilities throughout Oklahoma. For location information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.obi.org or call 1-877-340-8777.
Since there is no substitute for human blood, and supplies must be constantly renewed, the need for donation is great. According to America’s Blood Centers, one in three people will need blood during a lifetime.
However, of those eligible to donate blood in the U.S., less than ten percent actually donate each year. Anyone 16 years and older can donate(2) and blood donation generally takes only about one hour and can be done as often as every 56 days. Each blood donor can save the lives of up to three Oklahomans.
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