Published by Kirby Winn on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in News Releases
The national Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC) has been activated in response to a mass shooting that took place early Sunday in Austin, Texas. ImpactLife is among 12 blood providers across the country that have been asked to ship blood components in the BERC activation.
Media reports indicate the shooting took place at approximately 2 a.m. (central time) as bars were closing in a popular entertainment district of Austin, Texas. Two persons are reported to have been killed in the shooting, and on Sunday, 14 individuals were treated for injuries at local hospitals. The person believed responsible for the shooting was shot and killed by police officers who responded to the incident.
BERC was established to help blood providers meet immediate transfusion needs when faced with a large-scale emergency. Through BERC, blood centers commit to collecting extra units on a rotating “on call” schedule to create an available supply of blood for emergency needs. Blood providers that were “on call” for BERC on Sunday, March 1 are now supporting blood inventory needs in the region by providing additional units of red blood cells to support immediate needs and to recover inventory that was used to treat injured patients.
Learn More About Blood Emergency Readiness Corps
Units of blood provided through BERC help ensure patient care in the region, whether related to the mass casualty event or not, can continue uninterrupted. Additional donations will be needed to continue providing blood products, if needed in the region, and to support ongoing needs of hospitals and emergency medical services providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin that ImpactLife routinely supports. To book an appointment to give blood with ImpactLife, call (800) 747-5401, text LIFESAVER to 999-777, or book online at bloodcenter.org, or via the Blood Center’s mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
South Texas Blood & Tissue is coordinating the response with We Are Blood (both providers serve hospitals in the region). “Our hearts are with our close neighbors in Austin and with our partners at We Are Blood as they care for those affected by this tragic mass shooting,” said Audra L. Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, South Texas Blood & Tissue. “In moments like this, the strength of the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps is clear. South Texas Blood & Tissue is committed to supporting communities in crisis, and we were honored to send blood to help meet the immediate needs of patients. Our thoughts remain with the families who have lost loved ones and with those who are injured. We stand ready to help however we are needed.”
Media resources:
Images & Video from South Texas Blood & Tissue (Dropbox)
U.S. Blood Donation & Utilization Statistics
ABOUT IMPACTLIFE
ImpactLife is a nonprofit, independent, community blood center founded in 1974 that provides lifesaving blood products and services to more than 130 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. ImpactLife is one of the top 12 blood providers in the U.S. supporting the needs of patients, hospitals, EMS partners, and medical researchers throughout the country. The blood center’s mission is supported by more than 200,000 volunteer blood donations each year. For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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CONTACT:
KIRBY WINN
Manager, Public Relations
kwinn@impactlife.org
mobile 563-349-1571
