The shootings at Fort Hood in Texas severely taxed local hospitals as they struggled to cope with the flood of victims, and left them scrambling for blood donations as the casualties came into their emergency rooms. Victims were sent as far away as Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, about 30 miles away, since it has the only Level 1 trauma center in central Texas, so designated because it is capable of handling the most serious injuries. The hospital reported receiving 10 shooting victims from Fort Hood, and called for blood donations to keep up with the demands of treating all the wounded. The hospital closed to the public in the wake of the shootings "as we focus our attention upon the victims and their families and to insure the safety of our patients and staff," a hospital statement said.
