Blood drive in Stigler Tuesday

Oklahoma Blood Institute needs strong, inspiring, giving, and heroic blood donors to save the lives of local patients!

Oklahoma Blood Institute will hold the Haskell County blood drive at Stigler on Tuesday, April16, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Stigler First Assembly of God Church. Each blood donor will receive their choice of inspirational T-shirt in one of three featured colors: coral, sky blue, or gray.* All blood donors will also be automatically entered to win a storm shelter from FlatSafe.
“Whether it’s an emergency or a life-threatening illness, someone needs blood every two seconds,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute. “Blood is needed 365 days a year at our local hospitals. We encourage healthy adults, age sixteen and older,* to be heroes for patients and donate as often as they can.” O-negative blood donors are especially urged to give, as recent flu illnesses have strained Oklahoma Blood Institute’s supply of this universal blood type.
Only ten percent of people in the United States who are eligible to give blood actually do. Blood donation takes just about an hour, and each donation can save the lives of up to three patients. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days. Platelet donations can be made as often as every seven days, up to 24 times a year.
Donors also receive free health screenings and Donor Rewards points, redeemable at Oklahoma Blood Institute’s online store. If donors opt not to take the t-shirt, Oklahoma Blood Institute will make a monetary donation to Global Blood Fund for blood center assistance in developing countries.
As a non-profit blood center, Oklahoma Blood Institute’s donors provide every drop of blood needed for patients in more than 160 hospitals statewide. Approximately 1,200 volunteer blood donors are needed each day to maintain the supply.
Appointments are not required but can be made by calling Greg at 479-652-2362 or visiting obi.org.

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.