News

Facing an increasingly unsteady nationwide blood supply, The Community Blood Center (CBC) has helped found a first-in-the-nation partnership to prepare for emergency situations where blood needs are high.

The Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC), is comprised of seven blood centers from five states that have committed to collecting additional blood units on a rotating, “on-call” schedule. The blood products will be held in reserve for any critical-need scenario, like a mass shooting or natural disaster.

In addition to CBC, the initial blood center partners are Oklahoma Blood Institute, California’s Houchin Community Blood Bank, Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank and Texas’ We Are Blood, South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and Carter BloodCare. The network is expected to expand rapidly.

“We never know when tragedy will strike,” said John Hagins, CEO and President, The Community Blood Center. “We must be prepared with the blood needed during times of crisis. By joining BERC, CBC has immediate access to an extended blood supply during emergency situations when the need for blood may be significant.”

The nation’s blood centers have faced widespread blood shortages in recent months, creating a severely strained national safety net for mass traumas and other high casualty disasters. As the sole provider of blood, platelets and plasma to nearly 30 Midwest hospitals, CBC helped found BERC to be proactive in its emergency planning, rather than rely on an increasingly unstable back-up supply plan.

“We appreciate the initiative taken by The Community Blood Center and partners to ensure our communities are prepared for critical situations,” said Dr. David Schultz, ThedaCare Medical Director of Trauma. “While most of the blood supply is needed for surgeries, cancer treatment and more, mass traumas do happen. This partnership will enable health care systems to feel confident there will be an adequate blood supply to provide the best care possible for patients when they need us most.”

CBC is seeking out new sponsors to host blood drives specifically to support the emergency blood reserve. CBC will be collecting additional blood products as part of its on-call schedule. Participating centers will rotate inventory coverage, starting on a 3-week cycle. If no emergency situation arises, the blood products will be returned to CBC’s inventory and used for existing patient needs.

To learn more about BERC and how to support the nation’s emergency blood reserve, please contact CBC at (800) 280-4102.