Oklahoma Blood Institute is experiencing an emergency blood shortage and is issuing an urgent call for donors of all blood types.

Several days of winter weather, blood drive cancellations, and widespread illness, including a flu outbreak, have all contributed to a sharp downturn in donations.

Levels have reached a less-than-one-day supply.

Typically, Oklahoma Blood Institute maintains a three- to five-day supply for local hospitals.

“Because close to a quarter of our blood collections comes from school blood drives, school closings can be devastating to our inventory. With Spring Break around the corner, our schools and universities will be out again, and many people will be leaving the state for vacation. So, it is imperative to replenish the supply right away,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute.

“We are calling on all healthy Oklahomans to take about an hour of their time to give blood for our friends and neighbors in need.”

To schedule an appointment to give blood, call 1-877-340-8777 or visit obi.org to see a list of donor centers and mobile blood drives.

Look for updates on this alert on Oklahoma Blood Institute’s social media platforms. More information about Oklahoma Blood Institute can be found at obi.org.