Added 9:28 am, Last Updated 11:44 amWhile the outpouring of support following the shootings at Fort Hood was much appreciated, the need for blood in the future was on the mind of area suppliers.
"We go through a lot of blood," said Regina Phinney, manager of blood donor recruitment for Scott & White. "We use 1,400 units a month."
The Scott & White center is open until 6 p.m. on Friday and because of the situation will have limited resources available Saturday morning.
Carter BloodCare, noting the outpouring of support following shootings at Fort Hood, said while blood donations are appreciated, people who don't have O negative blood might think about waiting a month or two before donating.
The Waco Donor Center saw a nearly 600 percent increase in blood donors on Thursday after word spread about the shootings, according to Janet Gregg, a Carter BloodCare spokesman.
They are expecting a high turnout today, as well, Gregg said.
"We are specifically asking people with O-negative blood types to come in and donate, because O-negative is the universal donor, which means it can be given to any recipient," Gregg said. "However, it is also the blood type that the smallest percentage of the population has, which makes even more important that those who do have O-negative blood, come in and donate."
However, the awful tragedy at Fort Hood has happened at a time of year when blood programs are also concerned about having adequate inventories for transfusion-dependent patients who are hospitalized during the holiday season.
"While many blood donors will feel an understandable urgent need to donate now, their donations will be just as urgently required during the months of December and January," said Dr. Merlyn Sayers, Chief Executive Officer of Carter BloodCare. "Since there is a 56-day deferral after giving whole-blood, a donation now will make individuals ineligible when their blood will be especially needed later."
Carter BloodCare wants to avoid having a shortage of eligible blood donors during a season that is already historically challenging to manage.
Phinney said that was a valid point. "Donations are needed on a regular basis," she said, urging people to donate every 56 days. "We want to maintain an adequate inventory."
The blood collected at Scott & White stays here, Phinney said, helping local people with traumas, surgeries and other needs. "We gave blood to Darnall last night during the incident," she said, noting that "we're all in this together."
That attitude showed Thursday.
"We had donors drive here from Dallas and Houston," Phinney said. "A lot of people want to do something - that's wonderful."
Because of the high turnout, Scott & White is currently not accepting appointments to donate until next week. People wanting to sign up then may call 254-724-4376.
Phinney noted that previously scheduled blood drives for Monday are in Georgetown and College Station. The Georgetown drive will be at the Scott & White Clinic at 4945 Williams Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Texas A&M drive will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sbisa Dining Hall.
Carter BloodCare is the sole supplier of blood to 16 hospitals in Central Texas, including Metroplex, the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Hospital and HillCrest and Providence.
"We are the primary supplier of blood to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on Fort Hood and we are also an on-call provider to Scott & White," Gregg said. On Thursday, they did supply additional blood to all of the Bell County hospitals, at their request.
"In addition, we are part of the hub and spoke system, which is a group of six blood centers around the country who supply blood to the military upon demand. The hub and spoke system was activated Thursday and we did respond to that call for more blood," she said.
