An Austin area blood provider is partnering with other states to help address nationwide blood shortage.
We Are Blood, the main provider of blood to more than 40 medical facilities in the Austin area, is partnering with five other states to address the nationwide blood shortage due to the effects of COVID-19. The goal of this first-in-the-nation partnership is to better prepare communities for emergency situations where blood needs are high, according to FOX 7 Austin.
The nation’s blood centers have experienced extensive blood shortages in recent months, depleting much of the safety net needed for mass traumas and other high casualty disasters, according to The Associated Press.
The nonprofit partners are part of the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps, and have committed to gathering extra blood products on a rotating schedule to be held in reserve for any critical-need scenario, like a mass shooting or natural disaster, according to the corps website.
The other blood centers that are part of the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps are Oklahoma Blood Institute, Houchin Community Blood Bank in California, The Community Blood Center in Wisconsin, Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and Carter BloodCare, according to Fox 7 Austin.
We Are Blood and Austin officials are calling on Central Texans to make donations with the many blood donation opportunities available. Community members may sign up at any one of three area donor centers or at a mobile blood drive to donate blood, according to the Fox 7 Austin article.
