Blood institute urges people to roll up sleeves

>> WELL, THESE FREEZING RIDICULOUS TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK ARE MORE THAN JUST UNCOMFORTABLE. >> OKLAHOMA'S LARGEST BLOOD BANK SAYS IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE REASON THEY'VE HAD TO DECLARE A BLOOD SHORTAGE EMERGENCY. YOU CALL IT RIDICULOUS. AND MICHAEL SOSA TEMPERATURES PITIFUL. YEAH, SAY DESPERATELY NEED DONATIONS. RIGHT NOW. NEWS FOR SPENCER HUMPHREY JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO TONIGHT TO EXPLAIN WHY. >> JOLEEN AND KEVIN, OUR BLOOD INSTITUTE IS THE MAIN BLOOD SUPPLY. OR FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY HOSPITAL HERE IN OKLAHOMA. BUT >> THEY TELL ME THEY'VE HAD TO CANCEL SO MANY BLOOD DRIVES BECAUSE OF THIS COLD SNAP. WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THAT. THEIR SUPPLY IS NOW AT A CRITICAL LOW. >> AFTER YEAR, HE SET ABOUT 19 A >> 80 JOHN BISHOP ROLLS UP HIS SLEEVES TWICE A MONTH ABOUT 200 41ST DONATION. >> AND GIVES WHATEVER HE CAN WITH SOMETHING I CAN GIVE BACK WITH. JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. IN FACT, THE 79 YEAR-OLD IS NOW UP TO HIS 31ST GALLON OF BLOOD DONATED HERE AT OUR BLOOD INSTITUTE AFTER A WHILE, YOU FORM A CAMARADERIE WITH THE WORKERS PROBLEM IS HE'S ONLY ONE GUY IS THE WORST THING WE COULD DO IS NOT DELIVER A LOT BLOOD TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> BE ICE. PRESIDENT JOHN ARMITAGE SAYS THEIR BLOOD SUPPLY IS RUNNING CRITICALLY THIN. PEOPLE SAY ONE TO 2 DAYS. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT IS >> ON BE I DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BLOOD SHORTAGE, SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T DONE IN A YEAR. SO WE CAME OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS AND THEN THE WEATHER REALLY GAVE US A PRETTY SEVERE HIT. NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE WHAT DRIVES CANCEL.

>> BUT WHEN WE OPENED UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T MOTIVATED TO GET OUT IN THE 5 DEGREE WEATHER. THEY SAY THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE BISHOP TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES, SOMETHING THAT'S APPRECIATED. SOMETHING STATED SOMETHING I BELIEVE >> AND KEEP THIS CRITICAL LIFELINE PUMPING DON'T BE AFRAID COME ON OUT. COME ON OUT DONATE TO YOUR FRIENDS. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHOSE LIFE YOU GOT TO SAY. >> AND NOW ANOTHER IMPACT WORTH NOTING HERE IS THAT NORMALLY WHEN THERE'S A BLOOD SHORTAGE, BLOOD BANKS CAN TURN TO OTHER BLOOD BANKS IN NEARBY STATES TO HELP REPLENISH THEIR LOCAL SUPPLY. BUT SINCE THIS COLD SNAP IMPACTED SUCH A LARGE AREA OF THE COUNTRY, THEY TELL ME PRETTY MUCH .

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