Midtown Tulsa -
The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) entered its second day of its annual tie-die Bloodstock event Saturday morning.
Tulsa Promenade Mall hosted the event on the lower-level Penney's wing from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Every donor received a limited-edition "OBI Bloodstock 2012" tie-dye T-shirt, a voucher for two tickets to the Tulsa Zoo, and a coupon for a two-for-one admission to Big Splash Water Park while supplies last.
One lucky donor won a season pass for a family of four to Big Splash Water Park.
Any donor who wishes to support Children's Miracle Network hospitals locally, through The Children's Hospital at Saint Francis, can forgo the T-shirt offered in appreciation for giving. In turn, OBI will make a monetary donation of similar value to The Children's Hospital at Saint Francis.
The two-day event kicked off Friday at Keller Williams Realty in Owasso. OBI Communications Specialist Sara Wilson told KTUL.com that over 40 people donated blood on Friday.
Anyone who is healthy and 16 years or older is encouraged to donate. Plenty of air conditioned comfort is required at all blood drives.
16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission, 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, and 18-year-olds must weigh at least 110 pounds in order to donate.
During summer months, it is especially important to increase fluid intake the entire day before giving blood and to eat a complete meal within six hours of donation.
"The need for blood does not stop," said Wilson. "It doesn't take holidays, it doesn't take vacations."
Wilson said around 400 people donated blood at Friday's Owasso Bloodstock drives plus the five Bloodstock drives around Green Country on Saturday.
According to Wilson, OBI needs approximately 700 people per day to donate to take care of the 144 hospitals that it serves in Oklahoma.
OBI holds about 75 blood drives each month.
OBI Communications Specialist Sara Wilson
OBI volunteers Taylor Levacy and Stephanie Houston modeling Bloodstock T-shirts
