Student pilots and instructors from Vance Air Force Base filled the seats at Oklahoma Blood Institute Enid donor center Friday to help OBI respond to a critical blood supply shortage.

About 100 pilots from the 71st Student Squadron came out to donate blood and volunteer at OBI, one day after OBI declared an emergency in its blood supply.

Jessy Dershem, senior account consultant at the OBI Enid donor center, said the collaborative effort with Vance had been in the works for some time, but just came together late Thursday.07

“It’s ended up coming to fruition at the perfect time,” Dershem said, “because we just entered a blood emergency, so the units that are coming in are critically needed.”

Due to winter weather and icy roads, only about half the usual number of donors statewide had been able to donate in the previous three days, Dershem said.

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