Blood Donations Helped Stillwater Crash Victims

Saturday's deadly crash at OSU's homecoming parade led to the deaths of four people and injuring at least another 46 people. 

Eight patients were taken to OU Medical Center and Children's Hospital, and OU Medical Center's Trauma Center used 48 units of blood from Oklahoma Blood Institute for the victims of the OSU homecoming parade crash.

The blood supply is adequate should they need more Sunday, OBI spokeswoman Leslie Gamble said.

"Blood donors with OBI who gave last week, never imagining such a tragedy would occur, are responsible for the blood being readily available for the patients," Gamble said.

Air ambulances are equipped with O-Negative type blood should it be needed to save lives en route. Gamble said only 9 percent of the population has this blood type but it can be used by people with any blood type, and that blood type is always needed.

Platelets only last five days so donors willing to give platelets are urged to do so at any time, she said.

An average of 1,000 blood donors are needed each day to meet the needs of patients in the 154 hospitals OBI serves, Gamble said.

Click here to find a donor center and click here to find a blood drive near you.