LAWTON – The Oklahoma Blood Institute is facing a blood shortage and is asking people to donate immediately, before the weather gets worse.
This week’s winter blast is preventing 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 are closed due to the weather, which affects 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 few days, Chambers said. For instance, she said, the Apache Casino Hotel in Lawton is hosting a blood drive to assist the OBI until 3 p.m. today.
“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.
For more information about upcoming blood drives in the area, visit www.obi.org.