Central Texas blood center urges O+ and O- donations after West Sixth Street shooting

March 24, 2026

A mass shooting on West Sixth Street on March 1 left four people dead and 15 others injured, creating immediate demand for blood at hospitals across Central Texas. We Are Blood, the region's exclusive supplier, issued an urgent call for O positive and O negative donations to support care for trauma patients.

Blood transfusions play a central role in treating gunshot wounds, along with many other medical conditions such as severe bleeding, major surgery and cancer treatment. A single whole blood donation can be divided into red cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate, allowing one donor to help multiple patients with different needs.

We Are Blood highlights specific donation types for particular blood groups. Donors with AB blood are especially encouraged to give plasma, since AB plasma can be used broadly, while people with O positive, O negative, A negative or B negative blood can consider a Power Red procedure, which safely collects two units of red cells and returns other components to the donor.

Eligibility rules for donations include being at least 17 years old, weighing 115 pounds or more and being in generally good health, though requirements change by donation type. Donation frequency limits include whole blood once every 56 days, Power Red every 16 weeks and platelets as often as every seven days, up to 24 times per year.

Nationally, about 6.8 million people give blood each year, producing roughly 13.6 million units of whole blood, but local demand has risen in Central Texas. Nicholas Canedo, We Are Blood's vice president of community engagement, says population growth and increasing transfusion needs have pushed demand higher, and the center typically needs about 200 donations per day to maintain its supply, a number that can be strained after major incidents.

Donors and patients emphasize the impact of sustained donations. Abigail Norris, a biology student whose brother had cancer, says blood availability directly affected care. Health leaders and the blood center encourage year-round donation drives to avoid shortages and ensure inventory is ready for emergencies.

Broader factors affect how much blood communities need, including rates of violence. Multiple-state studies show higher gun death rates in states with weaker gun regulations, and Texas ranked 32nd in a 2026 assessment of state gun-related outcomes. Texas law changes in 2021 removed a license-to-carry requirement for most public spaces, eased background check and purchase permit rules for private sales, and did not require childproof features on new handgun models.

We Are Blood and local medical providers continue to ask residents to donate regularly, not only after high-profile events, so hospitals can meet routine and unexpected needs. Consistent donor participation helps reduce the chance of shortages and improves readiness when trauma incidents occur.