Paramedic 1
West Valley City Fire Department is now able to provide life-saving whole blood to patients experiencing significant blood loss in the field before they get to the hospital thanks to a new innovative partnership with Intermountain Health.
This is the first pre-hospital whole blood program to launch in Utah and addresses a critical need in the community.
Trauma ranks as the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, with uncontrolled bleeding responsible for over 30% of trauma-related fatalities. Nationally, only 1% of emergency medical service agencies carry blood products.
By delivering whole blood in the field, EMS providers in West Valley City can now initiate resuscitation sooner, significantly improving patients’ chances of survival.
“With this program we are trying to reach forward in the timeframe of a patient’s hemorrhagic shock and provide them a life-saving transfusion,” said Peter Taillac, MD, medical director for the West Valley City Fire Department.
Timely blood transfusions can mean the difference between life and death.
Research shows that every minute of delay in accessing blood increases mortality odds by 2%. Through this program, paramedic supervisors can provide whole blood directly at the scene or while being transported to a hospital, significantly improving patient outcomes.
These whole blood products will be provided to West Valley Fire Department EMS teams for use no matter which hospital is receiving the patient for care.
“For patients with massive bleeding, seconds matter,” said Dave Morris, MD, Intermountain Health trauma surgeon and associate medical director of trauma surgery at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. “This new program extends a lifesaving resource into the hands of our EMS teams.”
Whole blood is superior to normal IV fluids for several reasons:
• It provides a balanced transfusion by replacing all components lost, ensuring a comprehensive approach to patient care.
• It simplifies the administration process by requiring only one product.
• This leads to better patient outcomes, including doubling survival rates for those experiencing hemorrhagic shock.
• Additionally, patients who receive whole blood early in their treatment often require fewer blood transfusions during their recovery.
As with all emergency medical services, any care provided through this program – including the administration of whole blood – will be billed to the patient or their insurance in accordance with standard practices.
The launch of this program follows months of dedicated planning and a partnership between West Valley City and caregivers at Intermountain Health to ensure that this important service is available to the community.
This life-saving program also needs the continued support of the community through individual blood donations. With just one hour of your time, you can make a difference. One donation has the potential to save three lives.
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