Boots & Badges blood drive set for Aug. 2

Pawhuska’s first responders are looking for residents to support their efforts through blood donation with Oklahoma Blood Institute. Those who give at the Boots and Badges community challenge blood drive Aug. 2, will provide blood needed to save local lives, such as those that firefighters and law-enforcement officers rescue.

Anyone 16 years or older is urged to stop by the Elks Lodge between noon and 6 p.m. Aug. 2. All donors will receive a special-edition Boots and Badges T-shirt and a voucher for two free admissions to Safari Joe’s H20 Water and Adventure Park. They will also take part in a little friendly competition by designating their donations to either the fire department or law enforcement, as each department strives to top the other with the most blood donations. The Elks Lodge will be providing sandwiches and Frito chili pie.

Sixteen-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide a signed parental permission slip. Seventeen-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds. Potential donors aged 18 and older must weigh at least 110 pounds.

Although all blood types are needed, donors with O-negative blood are particularly urged to give. Only seven percent of the population has this blood type, but it is the “universal type” and can be used in an emergency when a patient’s blood type is not known.

“Pawhuska first responders see the daily need for blood first-hand when the people they rescue require life-saving treatment,” said Jan Laub, OBI executive director, Tulsa. “We can’t say enough about the service our police officers and firefighters provide, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is available in emergency situations.”

Appointments for the blood drive may be made by calling (877) 340-8777 or visiting obi.org.