First Responders Call for Blood Donors – Thursday, August 25
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Sand Springs’s first-responders are looking for citizens to support their efforts through blood donation with Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI). Those who give at the Guns ‘N Hoses blood drive Thursday, August 25, will provide blood needed to save local lives, like those that fire and law enforcement staffs rescue.
Anyone 16 years or older* can to stop by the Case Community Center between 1 and 6 p.m. All donors will receive a special-edition Guns ‘N Hoses T-shirt and a pass for two to the Tulsa Zoo. They will also participate in a little healthy competition by designating their donations to either the fire department or law enforcement as each rallies to top the other with the most donors.
Although all blood types are needed, donors with O-negative blood are particularly asked to come out. While only nine percent of the population has this blood type, it is the ‘universal type’ and can be used at an accident scene or in an emergency department when there’s not time to identify a patient’s type.
“Sand Springs first responders see first-hand the daily need for blood when those they rescue require life-saving treatment,” Jan Laub, Executive Director, OBI Tulsa, said. “We can’t say enough about the service they provide, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is available to save those whom they have risked their lives to rescue.”
Since there is no substitute for blood, supplies must constantly be renewed. Oklahoma Blood Institute is the state’s local non-profit, providing every drop of blood needed by patients in 90 percent of the state’s medical facilities including ALL Children’s, Veteran and Indian Hospitals.
Appointments for the blood drive may be made by calling 877-340-8777 or visiting obi.org.
* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds
