Fire department host blood drive today

Firemen and paramedics see accidents and injuries that can’t be unseen.

Fire Marshal, David VanBuskirk said these first hand interactions are what inspire them to host blood drives once or twice a year.

And one of their drives is today.

“Being in the fire service, and with the ambulance service, our guys are out there on the scene all the time seeing the need of the critical injured patients that we deal with and it really hits home with us to try to support the blood drive as much as we can," VanBuskirk said. "We know it’s all going to good use and there is definitely always a need for extra blood out there.”

The blood mobile will be at the fire department at Grand and Fifth between 2 and 5 p.m.

I spoke to Oklahoma Blood Institute account manager, Jessy Dershum and she provided some blood donor reminders.

“We are in need of O negative blood donors right now," Dershum said. " We are supplying all of the life ambulances in Oklahoma with two units of O negative blood every single day to meet those emergency needs, so we’re always in need of O negative blood. But we are looking for all blood types for this blood drive."

Remember to eat a good meal before because giving blood takes more than 600 calories from your body.

Also, you can’t have given blood in the past three months, you must have a photo ID and be at least 16.

If you are 16, you have to have a 16-year-old blood donor form with a parents signature, which can be found on OBI’s website.

For donating today you will receive a t-shirt and two free zoo tickets.

Click here to make an appointment to donate blood today.