Oklahoma Blood Institute

John Armitage, M.D.
President, CEO
1001 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: 405/278-3100
http://www.obi.org/

Who:  All healthy adults are encouraged to give blood.  Age and weight criteria:

  • 16 years old; ≥ 125 lbs. with parental consent
  • 17 years old; ≥ 125 lbs.
  • 18 years or older; ≥ 110 lbs.

Getting older does not make people ineligible to donate.  People who feel well and can do normal day-to-day activities can probably donate. People can give blood every 56 days. 

When:  Giving blood only takes about one hour.  Donors can call 877-340-8777 or go online at http://www.obi.org/ to schedule an appointment to give blood.

Where: Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) has locations across Oklahoma - - - in Tulsa, Ardmore, Ada, Lawton, Enid and Ponca City and five in the OKC-metro area. Many convenient, mobile blood drives are also held each week in schools, businesses and communities across the state.  To find hours of operation or a drive in your area, visit www.obi.org

Why:

  • The need for blood donations is constant.  Patients in Oklahoma hospitals have needs 365-days-a-year, whether it's for scheduled treatments or for emergencies.  Since there is no substitute for human blood, supplies must be constantly renewed.
  • The 38% of those who are eligible to donate blood in the U.S., less than five percent actually donate each year. 
  • Every two seconds someone needs blood.  Each unit of blood donated can save the lives of up to three people.
  • Although all blood types are needed, those with O Negative type blood are especially encouraged to donate.  According to American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), those with O Negative blood type make up only nine percent of the national population; however, O Negative blood can be used by anyone in emergency need when a patient's blood type has not yet been identified.

What is Oklahoma Blood Institute?

  • OBI manages the life-saving donations from more than 140,000 individuals each year.
  • Volunteer blood donors give more than a quarter-of-a-million units of blood annually to provide a safe and adequate blood supply.
  • Once tested and processed by OBI's medical professionals, blood and its components are transported to patients across our state.  
  • OBI provides every drop of blood needed by patients in some 150 medical facilities across Oklahoma. All Oklahoma City-area hospitals and the majority of others around the state rely on donors with Oklahoma Blood Institute to meet their patients' needs.
  • Oklahoma Blood Institute is the twelfth largest, independent non-profit blood center in the United States.

What is Texas  Blood Institute?

Texas Blood Institute is the sole blood and platelet collection organization and supplier in north Texas. Local donors can give life-saving blood for those in our community.  It is affiliated with Oklahoma Blood Institute, the nation's twelfth largest independent, nonprofit blood center.

Who does Texas Blood Institute serve?

Texas Blood Institute provides blood to eight different hospitals in the north central Texas counties of Baylor, Wichita, Clay, Hardeman and Wilbarger. 

Hospitals that rely on donors with Texas Blood Institute to meet their patients' needs include:
Kell West Regional Hospital, Wichita Falls
Chillicothe Hospital
Electra Memorial Hospital                                       
Wilbarger General Hospital, Vernon
United Regional, Wichita Falls                               
Hardeman County Memorial Hospital, Quanah
Clay County Memorial Hospital, Henrietta Seymour Hospital

What is Arkansas Blood Institute?

Arkansas Blood Institute is the sole blood and platelet collection organization and supplier in western Arkansas. Local donors can give life-saving blood for those in our community.  It is affiliated with Oklahoma Blood Institute, the nation's twelfth largest independent, nonprofit blood center.

Who does Arkansas Blood Institute serve?

Arkansas Blood Institute provides blood to 14 different hospitals serving the western Arkansas counties of Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Garland, Hot Spring, Johnson, Logan, Montgomery, Pike, Polk, Scott, Sebastian and Yell.

Arkansas Blood Institute is committed to the principle of self-reliance. It relies on local donors' commitment to maintain a strong blood supply for our communities.


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