Community generosity supports innovative blood transfusion program for first responders
UCHealth and Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services are teaming up to provide life-saving whole blood to patients experiencing significant blood loss before they get to the hospital.
This is one of the first pre-hospital whole-blood programs to launch in Colorado, and it is a major shift in how emergency care is delivered in the field.
The impact of whole blood
First responders traditionally have used IV fluids to treat patients in hemorrhagic shock until they get to a hospital. Starting this week, supervisors from both EMS agencies will be able to rapidly deliver whole-blood transfusions to stabilize critical patients.
Whole blood contains all blood components, which includes red blood cells, platelets and plasma. The closer it is administered to the time of injuries, the better the patient’s chance of surviving. According to a study published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons, the survival rate could increase up to 60 percent when the patient receives pre-hospital whole blood.
The practice of using whole blood for massive blood loss first occurred in World War I battlefields. Today, pre-hospital whole blood is cutting-edge treatment that gives bleeding patients the best chance of survival when every moment counts, according to Dr. Tyler Vaughn, an emergency medicine physician at UCHealth and the medical director of UCHealth EMS.
“This program is going to save lives,” Dr. Vaughn said. “Historically, treatment for bleeding patients was limited, and blood products allow our paramedics to save patients that wouldn’t have been able to survive to definitive care.”
Thompson Valley EMS serves Loveland, Berthoud and surrounding areas. UCHealth EMS serves much of northern Larimer County and much of Weld County. By working together, approximately 3,450 square miles and a population of more than 550,000 people in northern Colorado will be covered by the program.
“Through our partnership with UCHealth, we are ensuring that the northern Colorado communities we serve receive the most advanced out-of-hospital care available,” said TVEMS Chief James Robinson. “We are proud to be among the first EMS agencies in Colorado to bring whole blood to our patients and are confident it will save lives.”
The whole blood will be kept in temperature-controlled medical transport coolers in UCHealth and TVEMS supervisor paramedic response units that will be dispatched to emergency calls that may require out-of-hospital transfusion.
UCHealth launched a similar pre-hospital whole blood program in partnership with the Colorado Springs Fire Department earlier this year. In the first 100 days of the program, more than 30 lives were saved. UCHealth LifeLine teams across the state are also carrying whole blood to assist with scene response and critical care transports.
The Foundation’s Role
Offering whole blood in the field requires advanced equipment to store, transport, reheat and transfuse blood safely and effectively. Thanks to the generosity of community donors through UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation, specialized coolers and other essential equipment were purchased to make this life-saving program a reality. The Foundation’s Greatest Needs Fund, supported by philanthropic contributions from across the region, was instrumental in providing more than $165,000 to cover both the startup costs and the first year of operations for this innovative program. This initiative is a testament to the profound impact of community generosity on advancing health care innovations.
Seeking blood donors
All of the blood for the northern Colorado whole blood program will be supplied by UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center, according to Anna Johnson, the manager of the blood center.
“This life-saving program is only possible because of our volunteer blood donors who selflessly take the time to donate,” Johnson said. “We really can’t do this without them. And with the increased demand for blood products, we will need even more donors of all blood types to roll up their sleeves to help.”
Donations of all blood types are needed to supply whole blood for the prehospital program as well as to maintain the blood supplies needed for other patients, Johnson said. The center is seeking new donors of all tyeps to join the effort to save lives.
To schedule a blood donation at UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center locations in Greeley, Loveland or Fort Collins, or at one of their upcoming mobile clinics, go to https://blood-donation.uchealth.org and create an account or call 970.495.8965.
Story courtesy of Kelly Tracer. Read the original release here.