Carter BloodCare marks 1st anniversary of Blood Emergency Readiness Corps

U.S. blood centers unite to support communities in times of crisis

Carter BloodCare is marking the one-year anniversary of the United States’ first emergency blood reserve.

The Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC) was created in September 2021 to assist communities during large-scale emergencies that may deplete the local blood supply.

Founded by seven blood centers, including Carter BloodCare, BERC has grown to more than 30 centers in 41 states.

Prior to BERC, many local centers faced blood shortages during the pandemic. Through BERC, these blood centers are assured blood is available, without delays or uncertainty, during critical-need events.

Over the last 12 months, BERC has been activated in response to mass shootings in Memphis, Tenn.; Oxford, Mich.; and Uvalde, Texas; and following devastating tornadoes in Kentucky. In each incident, units shipped by BERC members supplemented the local blood supply in the affected region.

How Texans can help

Blood is needed nonstop for emergencies and daily medical procedures.

The North, Central and East Texas community is urged to donate at any Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile blood drive. It takes less than an hour to make a donation that saves lives.

To host a BERC blood drive, email BookABloodDrive@carterbloodcare.org, write ‘BERC’ in the subject line, and include contact information and ZIP code in the message. To schedule an individual donation with Carter BloodCare, call 800-366-2834 or visit CarterBloodCare.org and click the Donate Now tab.

About Carter BloodCare

Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of North, Central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 440,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products. Tu centro de sangre comunitario.