AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism
Disaster Operations Handbook
Raising Priority Status of Blood with State/Local Emergency Management Agencies
AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Pandemic Influenza and the Blood Supply
If you are a blood collector experiencing a disaster*, contact the AABB’s Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism.
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AABB Disaster Task Force:
+1.800.458.9388 |
*Definition of a “Disaster”
Unless otherwise stated, a “disaster” includes any domestic disaster or act or terrorism that:
- Suddenly requires a much larger amount of blood than usual
OR
- Temporarily restricts or eliminates a blood collectors ability to collect, test, process and distribute blood
OR
- Temporarily restricts or prevents the local population from donating blood or restricts or prevents the use of the available inventory of blood products requiring immediate replacement or re-supply of the region’s blood inventory from another region
OR
- Creates a sudden influx of donors requiring accelerated drawing of blood to meet an emergent need elsewhere
Members of the media should visit the “News and Media” section for updates regarding disasters affecting the blood supply.
For non-disaster inquiries, please contact AABB +1.301.907.6977, aabb@aabb.org, during regular office hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (ET) or consult a listing of AABB departmental email addresses and telephone numbers.
AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism
The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism (task force) was formed in January 2002 to help make certain that blood collection efforts resulting from domestic disasters and acts of terrorism are managed properly and to deliver clear and consistent messages to the public regarding the status of America’s blood supply. The task force is composed of representatives from U.S. blood services, associations and commercial entities, as well as liaisons from governmental agencies, who work together in an effort to ensure that safe and adequate blood product inventories are in place at all times in preparation for disasters. In addition, the task force operates as a mechanism to assess the need for collections and/or transportation of blood should a disaster occur.
AABB serves as the designated coordinating entity for the task force. In addition to AABB, members include AdvaMed, America's Blood Centers, American Association of Tissue Banks, American Hospital Association, American Red Cross, Blood Centers of America, College of American Pathologists, National Marrow Donor Program and the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association. Liaisons from the following government agencies also participate in task force discussions: Armed Services Blood Program and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.
In the event of an emergency, AABB immediately convenes a meeting of task force representatives. Local blood center(s) are responsible for ascertaining medical needs based on casualty estimates using pre-determined formulas, assessing available local supply, and communicating that information to the task force
Disaster Operations Handbook
The following Operations Handbook is designed to assist blood centers, hospital blood banks and transfusion services in preparing for and responding to future disasters and acts of terrorism that affect the blood supply.
Disaster Operations Handbook (v. 2.0, PDF)
Coordinating the Nation's Blood Supply During Disasters and Biological Events
Overview of Response Plan (v. 2.0, PDF)
Disaster Operations Handbook: Hospital Supplement (v. 2.0, PDF)
Raising Priority Status of Blood with State/Local Emergency Management Agencies
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have recently communicated with state and local emergency management agencies and regional health administrators asking them to work to ensure that blood support to patients in disasters is appropriately prioritized in state, territorial, tribal and local emergency planning.
During previous exercises and actual disasters, some blood centers encountered difficulties in obtaining fuel for generators to collect and maintain blood supplies, emergency vehicles to distribute blood with a limited shelf-life, or reliable access to emergency communications. The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism (task force) has urged HHS and DHS to help address this problem, in part by increasing awareness among state and local emergency management agencies about the need to prioritize blood needs.
The task force continues to urge blood centers to contact their state, local or territorial emergency management and public health agencies and participate whenever possible in their emergency planning and response activities. If a blood center has had any difficulty establishing relationships with or obtaining support from such agencies, AABB suggests that the facility share the attached letters from DHS and HHS with the state and local agencies to underscore the importance of the blood supply during disasters and exercises.
AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Pandemic Influenza and the Blood Supply
The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Pandemic Influenza and the Blood Supply was formed in 2005 to help ensure that blood needs can be met in the event of an influenza pandemic. The task force is actively monitoring current information and data pertaining to a possible pandemic and has developed guidance for blood centers and hospital transfusion services to help them prepare for a pandemic and limit any related adverse impact on blood safety and availability.
AABB serves as the designated coordinating entity for the Interorganizational Task Force on Pandemic Influenza and the Blood Supply. In addition to AABB, members include America's Blood Centers, American Red Cross, Blood Centers of America, and AdvaMed. Representatives from the following government agencies also participate in task force discussions: Armed Services Blood Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, and Food and Drug Administration.
Pandemic Influenza Resources
As noted in Association Bulletin 09-07, the task force has updated the following background paper and the accompanying issues outline and planning checklist to incorporate lessons learned to date from the novel H1N1 flu pandemic and other current information. These documents are designed to assist blood centers, hospital blood banks and transfusion services in preparing for and responding to a pandemic. If you have questions or comments about these pandemic influenza documents, please contact govt&legal@aabb.org.
Association Bulletin #09-07 – Pandemic Influenza Update
Pandemic Influenza Background Paper Version 2.0 (PDF)
Pandemic Influenza Issues Outline Version 2.0 (PDF)
Blood Collection Facility and Transfusion Service Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist Version 2.0 (PDF)
Additional Resources:
FDA Background Paper on H1N1 Influenza Virus and Blood Safety
This background paper prepared by the Food and Drug Administration addresses questions about the potential impact of the H1N1 influenza virus outbreak on the blood supply, including provisions that should be made by blood establishments such as donor deferral and potential component quarantine and retrieval.
Information Resources from the FDA on the H1N1 Flu Virus
This Food and Drug Administration Web page provides links to testimony, press releases, fact sheets and other resources related to the H1N1 flu virus.
Association Bulletin #09-03 - Influenza A (H1N1) of Porcine Origin – Update
Association Bulletin #09-02 - Swine Influenza H1N1
Association Bulletin #06-06 - Pandemic Influenza Planning
Flu Task Force Requests Blood Center Staff and Committed Donors Receive Priority for Pandemic Flu Vaccination
The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Influenza Pandemics and the Blood Supply is urging the federal government to include personnel who are directly involved in the collecting, processing, testing or transfusing of blood products as a category that will be given high priority for influenza immunization. In a letter sent on January 18, 2007, to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, the task force notes that it is essential that certain blood center and transfusion service personnel and “committed” platelet and RBC donors have priority access to vaccines and antivirals in order to help ensure a safe and adequate blood supply in the event of a flu pandemic. HHS and other federal agencies are working to identify populations that should be given priority status for the expected limited supply of pandemic influenza vaccine.
Letter Requesting Vaccine Priority (PDF)
Contact:
govt&legal@aabb.org