Stand TALL and give blood at upcoming mobile blood drive events
There are several mobile blood drives scheduled in Hot Spring County and surrounding areas in the coming weeks, which is great news, because it gives you plenty of chances to join in the crucial and nonstop effort to save lives!
This mission is led by the tri-state nonprofit blood provider, Our Blood Institute (formerly Arkansas Blood Institute), and their dedicated staff and volunteers.
OBI collects blood, plasma and platelets that are used not just for trauma-related blood losses, but also for other issues that include cancer treatments, blood disorders, complications from surgery, premature babies and blood loss experienced during childbirth. They’re also involved in research and furthering advancements in the medical field.
Our Blood Institute collects, tests and distributes blood to patients at more than 240 hospitals, medical facilities and air medical care operations throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. OBI serves 40 hospitals in Arkansas and have permanent donor centers in Ft. Smith, Hot Springs, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Russellville. They also utilize the Bloodmobile in these and other areas to organize mobile blood drive events.
There are several mobile blood drives coming up here and in surrounding areas of central Arkansas:
*Bismarck High School will host the Bloodmobile on Thursday, March 28, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
*Stop by Lowe’s in Bryant on Saturday, March 30, and give blood between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
*Tell you friends out in Hot Springs Village that Clampits Country Kitchen will be welcoming the Bloodmobile to their eatery on March 30 as well, from 9:30 a.m. ’til 1:30 p.m.
*Walmart in Benton will have the Bloodmobile on hand in the parking lot on Friday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to noon, after which the mobile
unit will move to the Walmart in Bryant from 2:305:30 p.m.
*Check out a Hog and drive home a winner if you go by Rock City Harley-davidson in Little Rock on Saturday, April 6, and donate blood anytime between noon and 4 p.m.
*The Bloodmobile goes back to the Village on April 9, where they’ll set up at the HSV Coronado Center from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Another blood drive will take place at Amberwood Health & Rehabilitation in Benton that same afternoon from 12:30-4:30 p.m.
*ASU Three Rivers will host the Bloodmobile on April 11 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Bloodmobile goes back to the Village yet again the following day, where they will take donations at the HSV Ponce de Leon Center from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
There are several other mobile blood drives going on in central Arkansas later in April, including stops by Henderson State University on April 24, the Hot Springs Mall on April 26, and The Crossing at Malvern on April 29. Appointments to donate are not required but are suggested. Visit obi.org or call 877-340-8777 to make a donor appointment to these or any of the previously listed mobile events.
And if you are Type O, PLEASE consider donating!
“No matter your blood type, it’s important to remember that your blood is needed to save lives. That said, there’s one blood type that is regularly in short supply and high demand: type O,” as stated on the OBI website.
Some basic but very important facts about Type O blood include:
• O-positive is the most common of all blood types. About 38 percent of the population is believed to have this kind of blood.
• O-positive blood donations aid patients with not only O-positive blood, but also Ab-positive, A-positive and B-positive.
• Patients with O-positive blood can receive blood transfusions from other O-positive or O-negative donors.
• More than 80 percent of people have a positive blood type, creating a significant demand for O-positive blood. A shortage of O-positive can be common due its demand.
• O-negative blood is much more rare than O-positive blood. Only about seven percent of the population has O-negative blood.
• Universal donors are those with an O-negative blood type. Why? O-negative blood can be used in transfusions for any blood type.
• During blood shortages, O-negative blood is often the first to run out due to its versatility. Managing the O-negative supply is always a top priority for Our Blood Institute.
• People with O-negative blood can only receive O-negative blood.
Besides giving the gift of life, there can be something in it for the donor, too!
Blood donors usually get some sort of gift or reward from medical staff when they donate, like a t-shirt with images or phrasing displayed related to the blood drive’s monthly theme. As OBI’S donors are always “head and shoulders above the rest”, they invite all of you to Stand TALL and donate blood next month, and you will get a cool t-shirt sporting a few cute giraffes and the logo for April.
While supplies last, each donor will get one free entry ticket to Museum of Discovery, one free bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes, and a free t-shirt. So, wear that shirt with pride, and inspire others to care a little more!
Donors can also find games and trivia on the OBI website that offer donors a chance to win prizes. Their promotion for March and April, “Donate Blood & Play To Win!”, gives donors a chance to play Tic Tac Trivia and win a $500, $250 or $100 gift card!
“How much do you know about zoo animals? Now's your chance to prove you're head and shoulders above the rest!” as stated on the website.
“To celebrate the launch of our new donor reward — our "Stand Tall and Donate" giraffe T-shirt — Our Blood Institute has created a zoo-themed trivia game! Complete the quiz and then donate blood between March 1 and April 30, 2024, for a chance to win a $500, $250 or $100 gift card! Those who can’t donate are eligible to win a $50 gift card by simply completing the quiz.”
You can find this promotion and others for Arkansas donors at ourbloodinstitute.org/events/arkansas. Just take the brief online quiz for your chance to win!
And keep in mind that when you give blood, you will also receive for yourself a mini health screening when OBI processes your donation—testing that includes monitoring of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Save yourself the co-pay, and donate!
Donating blood is simple, relatively painless, and can truly save someone’s live. OBI makes it easy and rewarding for donors, so don’t wait—save a life today.
If you can’t make it to one of the mobile blood drive events, you can always give lifesaving blood and plasma at the Hot Springs Donor Center, located at 149 Section Line Rd. Call 501-624-0666 or visit OBI’S online Donor Portal at www.yourbloodinstitute.org to schedule an appointment at this facility.