The Oklahoma Blood Institute late last month declared an emergency blood shortage.

Two upcoming local blood drives can help put a dent in that shortage.

The local blood supply is currently at a 1-2 day supply, well below the usual 4-5 day threshold the Oklahoma Blood Institute feels secure having on hand.

“In the past month, we’ve seen a dramatic drop in blood donations, an alarming development when we were already facing chronic shortfalls,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute.

“The public is rightly enjoying the reawakening of social freedoms and a return to normalcy, but if celebrating this rebirth by giving blood does not immediately become a major part of people’s reopening activities, we are going to run out of blood for patients. Harm may well result for many of the sickest folks in our communities.”

The critically low blood supply is more dangerous than it has ever been because nationwide shortages have dried up the emergency safety net usually provided by sharing of units between blood centers.

Blood has no substitute, and patients across the state rely on blood products every day to fight cancer, survive trauma and heal after childbirth, Armitage said.

“If Oklahomans don’t hear the call and regain their pre-pandemic levels of generosity, we’re facing serious damage to the transfusion care that our hospital partners normally provide,” Armitage said. “We keep thinking that COVID-related problems can’t get worse, but we now have the worst stock levels I have seen in my 26 years of blood banking. We need the Oklahoma Standard to gear up into overdrive to carry us out of the sputtering pattern of repeated crises that is starting to emerge post-COVID.

“We’re pleading with our past, present and future donors to help now.”

Local drives this month include:

• July 13 at Cimarron Electric Cooperative, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• July 17 at United Supermarket, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Individuals ages 16 and up are allowed to give blood.

Successful blood donors will receive a special summer t-shirt and their choice of one free adult admission to Science Museum Oklahoma, one free adult admission to Frontier City Theme Park or two free admissions to Safari Joe’s H2O Water Park.

“Summer traditionally challenges our ability to collect blood products, as many are vacationing and outside of their normal routines,” Armitage said.

“We’re so thankful to our loyal summer partners for helping us reward those who make their summer a lifesaving one by donating blood for those in need.”

Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777.

While COVID-19 vaccination is not required of blood donors, those who have been vaccinated can donate immediately, assuming they are feeling well.

Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives.