Published: June 09, 2009 12:03 pm      

On the lookout for blood donors

Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) encourages all healthy, Pauls Valley-area residents, age 17 and older, to participate in a blood drive sponsored by Curwood this week.

An OBI bloodmobile will be at Curwood, 200 N. Indian Meridian, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 11.

“During the summer months, many Oklahomans who regularly donate are away on vacation or busy with other summer activities,” said John Armitage, M.D., Oklahoma Blood Institute president and chief executive.

“But patients’ needs and emergencies never take a break and that’s why it is important to take just an hour to come by Curwood drive to save a life.”

All donors will receive two tickets to the Oklahoma City Zoo and a free T-shirt, along with free health screenings and Members for Life points to redeem at OBI’s online store.

Donations take about an hour and can be made every 56 days, Armitage said.

He added OBI provides every drop of blood used by Pauls Valley General Hospital, as well as most other hospitals statewide.

Oklahoma Blood Institute is the 11th largest, non-profit blood center in America.

In 2007, more than 127,600 donors provided more than 250,000 gifts of blood used for transfusion and associated clinical services in more than 150 medical facilities in Oklahoma and north central Texas.

OBI employs nearly 700 Oklahomans and works with an estimated 800 volunteers and 2,600 drive coordinators.

For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood at the Curwood drive, contact Susan Norman at (405) 207-2220.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood at any OBI site, call 1-866-341-8728, or visit www.obi.org to see a list of blood drives and donor centers in your area.