Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs to receive life-saving blood. Our Blood Institute, formerly Oklahoma Blood Institute, is the sixth-largest independent blood center in the country, with 17 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. It is the primary blood supplier in Oklahoma, servicing more than 95% of our hospitals, medical facilities, air ambulances and local health systems. Each day approximately 1,200 donors are required to meet the needs of our community, with each donation saving up to three lives.
The amount of blood needed in Oklahoma varies daily, based on a variety of factors. Stored blood has a shelf life of about 35 days, requiring the supply to be constantly replenished. When time is of the essence during an emergency, O-Negative is the first blood type to be used, as it is the universal donor. This does not make donation of other blood types any less valuable, though, because as a patient’s blood type is identified, they are then able to receive specifically what their body needs. The easiest way to learn your own blood type is to donate blood.
The American Red Cross reports a significant decrease in the volume of donations since the COVID pandemic began, with some areas experiencing a 40-70% decline over the past five years. Additionally, the Association for the Advancement of Blood Biotherapies reported in 2023 that there has been a 30% decline in donors under 30 years old throughout the last decade.
Because of the constant demands and decline in donors, it is even more important to make blood donation part of your routine every 56 days. Donation eligibility begins at age 16 with a parent’s signature, and there is no age limit as long as the donor meets all other requirements. In 2022, the FDA lifted a ban on those potentially exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, or Mad Cow, so if you were previously ineligible to donate, try again!
If someone you know is in the hospital or undergoing a medical treatment, another way to show them support is by participating in the Credit to Patient Program. Through a donation of blood in their name, they will receive a monetary credit toward their medical bills.
On June 14, OBI is celebrating World Blood Donor Day. Last year, over $20,000 was raised for Global Blood Fund, a nonprofit organization initiated by Our Blood Institute’s CEO, John Armitage. The money raised assisted in purchasing valuable lab equipment for Village of Hope Christian Hospital, a medical facility in Ghana, during the hospital’s expansion into an accredited regional blood bank. For many remote areas, hospital workers may have to travel hours to the closest available blood bank, greatly limiting the patient’s quality of care.
Donating blood is a simple way to save a life. A full list of eligibility questions, as well as a list of donation centers and mobile blood drives in your area, are found on the Institute’s website, ourbloodinstitute.org.
