In Conversation With John Hagins: Improving Disaster Response for Future Events

The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism was formed in January 2002 to help ensure that blood collection efforts after domestic disasters and acts of terrorism are managed properly and to inform the public about the status of the nation’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 to ensure that safe and adequate blood product inventories are always in place in preparation for disasters. In addition, the Task Force operates as a mechanism to assess the need for collections and/or transportation of blood products should a disaster occur.John Hagins, president and CEO of The Community Blood Center in Appleton, Wisc., serves as the chair of the Task Force. Hagins chatted with AABB News about the Task Force’s focus on disaster preparedness, lessons learned, challenges in disaster response and more. 

How does the Task Force prioritize blood supply needs when responding to a disaster?

A key strength of the Task Force is its diversity, which ensures a wide range of expertise and perspectives when navigating a mass casualty event. We have representatives from various sectors, such as government agencies, the American Red Cross, Blood Centers of America and independent blood centers. Each person brings something different to the table, helping us to quickly prioritize blood banking needs and allocate resources efficiently during a disaster, whether it’s a cyberattack that temporarily shuts down a blood center or a hurricane that impacts several centers simultaneously – or any other incident that may impact the nation's blood supply. We focus on assessing and addressing the highest priorities at that point in time to ensure we support all patient needs in the affected areas.