Ok. Blood Institute Reports 12-Year Low in Donations

Lawton, Ok. – The Southwest Oklahoma Blood Institute has put out the call for more donors and no appointment is necessary to help bring the supply up during this time of shortage which is at a twelve-year low.
The center is one of several offices of the Oklahoma Blood Institute based in Oklahoma City which serves the needs of 92 hospitals around the Sooner State plus ships blood to the U. S. military.
According to Tammy Whitely of the SWOBI office, 211 S.W. A Avenue, Lawton, summer months, especially July and August, usually present shortage situations as people are busy with vacations and other activities. But this year has been a particular challenge, especially with deferments for certain groups, such as U.S. military members who have been stationed in other nations.
Whitely said, "I would like to encourage especially those with type O (the universal donor type), either O positive or O negative, to donate."
No appointment is necessary at the center which is open weekdays, 8:30 a.m.--5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.--noon.
The Oklahoma Blood Institute offers donors a mini-physical and free t-shirt. It also tests the donations for presence of the West Nile mosquito-borne illness to help keep the blood supply safe.
Weekly remote OBI donation sites are set for Chickasha on Tuesdays at 902 Chickasha Avenue, 9 a.m.--6 p.m., and in Duncan on Wednesdays at 1004 W. 5th, 9 a.m.--6 p.m.