The Oklahoma Blood Institute is doubling up on donors next week.
Two drives are scheduled, one at Henryetta high school Feb. 13 and the second at Dewar Feb. 15.
The Henryetta donations will be taken at the old gymnasium and at Dewar, donors can come to the band room. Both sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Blood donors will receive their choice of t-shirt in one of three featured colors, “Strong” olive, “Bold” maroon, or “Fearless” teal. Healthy adults, age sixteen and up, have the opportunity to give blood at one of the following drives*:
“Accidents happen. People are battling cancer. Babies are born prematurely,” said Jan Laub, Executive Director, Tulsa. “The need for blood is constant, and there is no substitute. Unfortunately, until we know that someone is fighting for life, we just don’t think about how critical it is.”
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 7 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.