The Oklahoma Blood Institute has four blood drives planned in Kingfisher County during the first 10 days of June.

Scheduled blood drives are:

• June 3 at First Christian Church of Kingfisher, 102. S. 7th St., 1:30-5 p.m.

• June 4 at Countrywood Assisted Living Center, 1604 S. 13th St., Kingfisher, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• June 8 at Dover Fire Department, 121 E. Redford Drive, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• June 9 at First Baptist Church of Kingfisher, 1340 S. 13th St., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Blood donors will receive a “Summer Vibes” t-shirt and a voucher for free admission to their choice of Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (one entry)  or Safari Joe’s H2O Water & Adventure Park in Tulsa (two entries).  

“Summer is a particularly challenging time for the blood supply,” said John Armitage, M.D., Oklahoma Blood Institute president and CEO.

“People go out of town, and are busy with activities, and get out of their normal routine of giving blood. We encourage healthy adults to spare just an hour of their time to save the lives of their neighbors.”

Oklahoma Blood Institute relies on donations from approximately 1,200 donors each day  to meet the needs of patients statewide. One blood donation can save as many as three lives.

O-Negative donors are particularly needed, since their rare blood type is the only blood type that is transfused in emergencies when blood type is unknown.

Only 10 percent of people in the United States who are eligible to give blood actually do, according to the OBI.

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.  

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 generous donors provide every drop of blood needed for patients in more than 160 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide.

Appointments are not required, but can be made by calling 877-340-8777 or visiting obi.org.