Published: June 24, 2009 09:35 am      

Hospital to host blood drive

Pauls Valley-area residents, age 17 and older, are invited to participate in an Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drive this week, sponsored by Pauls Valley General Hospital.

The drive is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 26 at the local hospital, 100 Valley Drive.

“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 Pauls Valley General Hospital 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 can be made every 56 days, and OBI provides every drop of blood used by Pauls Valley General Hospital, as well as most other hospitals statewide.

For more information or to make an appointment to donate in the Pauls Valley General Hospital blood drive, contact Bruce Mayhan at (405) 238-5509, extension 267.

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.

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.