Faced with shortage, OBI asking people to donate blood

LAWTON — The Oklahoma Blood Institute is facing an emergency blood shortage and is asking people to donate immediately, before the next cold spell hits.

This week’s winter blast prevented many people from getting out and donating blood as they normally would, said Christi Chambers, executive director of the OBI for southwest Oklahoma. Also, some of the places that normally host blood drives were closed due to the weather, which affected the OBI’s ability to provide blood for the patients who need it.

But the OBI’s collection center at 211 SW A Ave. in Lawton is still open for business, and the agency has scheduled pop-up blood drives around the region over the next several days, Chambers said Tuesday.

“We’re being creative and asking other partners who can host drives during these times that our other partners would normally do it but can’t, because the weather prevents them from getting to work or school,” Chambers said.

Donors are not required to schedule an appointment, but making an appointment reserves a time for donation and helps OBI be efficient with donors’ time.

Here’s a list of mobile blood drives scheduled through Friday, Feb. 10, according to OBI’s website, www.obi.org. 

• 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at F45 Training West, 2044 NW 82nd St., Lawton.

• 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday at Eisenhower Middle School, 5702 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton.

• 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Cache High School new gym/hospitality room, 201 W. H in Cache.

• Noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Nothing Bundt Cakes, 3801 NW Cache Road, Suite 22, in Lawton.

For more information, visit www.obi.org.