Oklahoma Blood Institute has two blood drives planned next week in Kingfisher County.

Scheduled are drives at:

• Lomega High School, Monday, April 8, from 2:30-6 p.m., and,

• Chesapeake in Kingfisher, Thursday, April 11, noon-4 p.m.

Blood donors will receive their choice of t-shirt in one of three featured colors: coral, sky blue, or gray.  

Healthy adults, age 16 and up, can give blood.  

“Whether it’s an emergency or a life-threatening illness, someone needs blood every two seconds,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute. “Blood is needed 365 days a year at our local hospitals. We encourage Oklahomans to be heroes for patients and donate as often as they can.”

 O-negative blood donors are especially urged to give, as recent flu illnesses have strained Oklahoma Blood Institute’s supply of this universal blood type.

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

 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.