OBI, Our Blood Institute, formerly known as Oklahoma Blood Institute, is sending out a desperate call for donations after blood inventory levels dropped sharply, from approximately 5,200 units at this time last year to about 2,200 units today. To help stabilize supply, more than 300 units of O blood were recently imported from the East Coast, underscoring the urgent need for local donations, with a critical focus on O blood.
Local residents have an opportunity to help on Tuesday, January 27th as Cordell Memorial Hospital sponsors the Cordell Community Blood Drive at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 2nd and Market Street, in Cordell.
Donors are accepted between noon and 5:30 p.m., and for easiest donation an appointment can be made by calling 877-340-8777 or visiting obi.org.
Donations of all blood types are needed to support patient care. However, declining participation among O blood donors has placed added strain on the blood supply.
Between 2020 and 2024, the O-negative donor base declined by 13%, while the O-positive donor base declined by 7%. Those declines have driven a gradual drop in overall blood availability that is creating a persistent worry for the strength of the transfusion safety net. While patient care needs remain steady, including trauma response, surgeries, childbirths and ongoing treatments, local inventory has not rebounded following the holidays.
Type O blood plays a unique and essential role in both emergency response and scheduled medical care. While every blood type is vital, maintaining adequate O blood inventory is critical to ensuring care is not delayed or disrupted.
Our Blood Institute is asking donors of all blood types to give, with a special call to eligible O-negative and O-positive donors to donate now. OBI is also encouraging recent donors to return and new donors to step forward to help ensure patients across our communities continue to receive the care they need.
Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old or older can give blood. Donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. (16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.)