Oklahoma Blood Institute has two blood drives planned in Kingfisher at the end of this month.

Scheduled drives are:

• Tuesday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cimarron Electric Cooperative;

• Wednesday, July 31, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kingfisher Walmart.

Those who donate will receive a t-shirt as well as a free pass to their choice of Frontier City, Science Museum Oklahoma or Safari Joe’s.

“Summer is a particularly challenging time for the blood supply,” said John Armitage, M.D., Oklahoma Blood Institute president and CEO. “We are so proud to partner with fantastic local attractions.  Frontier City, Science Museum Oklahoma, and Safari Joe’s are all great places to have fun this summer and they have generously provided us another way to thank our donors for their life-saving gifts.”

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.

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

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 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.