On Thursday, March 5, Heidi Case places a heart at a growing memorial for the victims of a recent mass shooting outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden, in Austin, Texas. Assistance for response came from far away, including Appleton, Wis. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

APPLETON, Wis. – The Community Blood Center (CBC) sent 50 units of whole blood plasma, which is part of a local whole blood donation, to Austin, Texas to support hospitals treating patients following a mass shooting last weekend.

The critical shipment was requested by the blood center We Are Blood to ensure Central Texas patient care continues without delay. CBC activated and shipped within hours to serve the need.

A single blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives when separated into three key components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. CBC processes donations and creates all these lifesaving products in a state-of-the-art laboratory. Maintaining a strong supply of all blood products is crucial for local patient care, plus providing a lifeline during emergency situations.

“Our hearts are with the victims, their loved ones and the medical teams providing care during this difficult time,” said John Hagins, president & CEO of The Community Blood Center. “We are very grateful to our donors whose generosity makes it possible to help patients in Texas while continuing to meet

the needs of patients right here at home. By donating, you help maintain a reliable blood supply for routine treatments and unexpected emergencies.”

The Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC) activated in response to the deadly shooting. About 40 blood centers are part of the BERC network, preparing for emergency situations by collecting and storing extra blood products on a rotating on-call schedule. Blood centers on-call sent units of blood to Texas to help treat patients. While CBC was not on-call, team members quickly responded to We Are Blood’s urgent request for plasma.

People may donate now to support local patients and help restock after this emergency response. All blood types and platelets are needed as cold and flu season leads to fewer appointments and more cancellations.

Donations may be scheduled by visiting communityblood.org, using the CBC Donor App or calling 800-280-4102.

The Community Blood Center was established in 1955 and continues today as an independent nonprofit providing a safe and reliable blood supply to hospitals in the Midwest. CBC has donor centers in Wisconsin (Appleton, Little Chute, Woodruff, Wausau and Green Bay) and Illinois (Chicago). CBC hosts more than 100 blood drives every month. The Community Blood Center is a member of America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and Blood Centers of America (BCA) which are networks of independent community-based, not-for-profit blood centers supporting the blood needs for approximately 60% of the United States.