CBCO responds to the region’s call for help through the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps
May 25, 2022– Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO), the sole supplier of blood products to 44 area healthcare facilities, is a partner in the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC), a network of community blood centers established to better prepare each community for mass-transfusion emergencies along with other community-based blood centers across the nation. The partnership was created to add another level of protection for the blood needs of the region as well as provide the opportunity for CBCO blood donors to help in a time of crisis.
“We are deeply saddened by the horrific events that unfolded on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas,” said Anthony Roberts, Executive Director of CBCO. “In addition to our thoughts, prayers, and condolences, CBCO is sending blood products to assist the victims of this senseless tragedy. CBCO was able to respond quickly to the region’s call for help through our partnership with Blood Emergency Readiness Corps and the support of our valued blood donors here in the Ozarks.”
This is CBCO’s on-call week with BERC, along with other independent blood centers from across the nation. The ability to respond is thanks to all the area donors who gave blood in recent days and weeks since it is the blood on the shelf that is so critical when an emergency situation occurs.
“Your donations made it possible for us to answer the call when it came,” said Michelle Teter, Media Relations Representative for CBCO. “We always want to stand ready for not only emergency situations, but also for our patients who depend on lifesaving blood every day. As we enter a holiday weekend and the summer season when blood donations typically decline, we are calling on all blood donors, especially those with type O Negative blood, to help replenish the local blood supply and be prepared for any other emergency that might arise.”
Find a blood drive near you and make an appointment to give at https://www.cbco.org/donate-blood/. On behalf of local hospital patients, CBCO thanks blood donors from across the region for giving life to your community and helping in a time of national crisis.