Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) and Lincoln Fire & Rescue (LFR) have announced the launch of a new pre-hospital blood transfusion program that will allow specially trained EMS providers to administer lifesaving blood to critically injured patients before they arrive at the hospital.
LFR and NCBB officially launched the program during a press conference on September 29 at Lincoln Fire & Rescue Station 8, where fire and EMS leaders discussed how bringing blood directly to patients can improve emergency care when every minute matters. Lincoln Fire Chief Dave Engler, LFR Medical Director Dr. Noah Bernhardson, LFR Battalion Chief for the EMS Division Jamie Pospisil, and NCBB Executive Director of Operations Cheryl Warholoski participated in the announcement.
Under the new program, specially trained EMS providers will carry blood products and can begin transfusing eligible patients experiencing severe blood loss at the scene or en route to the hospital. Previously, patients experiencing life-threatening bleeding generally had to wait until reaching the hospital to receive a transfusion.
“Lincoln Fire and Rescue is proud to announce the implementation of our Pre-Hospital Blood Administration Program, an advancement that places us among only 2% of EMS agencies nationwide,” said Jamie Pospisil, Battalion Chief, EMS Division at City of Lincoln Fire & Rescue. “Thanks to our partnership with NCBB, we can bring this lifesaving treatment to patients faster than ever, strengthening emergency care for the community we serve.”
“This program represents an important step forward in emergency care and our ability to get lifesaving blood to patients when they need it most,” said Cheryl Warholoski, Executive Director at Nebraska Community Blood Bank. “We’re proud to partner with Lincoln Fire & Rescue to bring this capability to our community and help ensure critically injured patients can begin receiving blood as quickly as possible.”
Severe bleeding is a leading cause of preventable death following traumatic injury, and more than half of trauma deaths occur before a patient reaches the hospital. Research shows that every minute of delay in accessing blood increases mortality odds by approximately 11 percent. While traumatic injuries are among the most common reasons for pre-hospital transfusions, the treatment may also be used for patients experiencing severe blood loss from medical emergencies such as postpartum hemorrhage and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Make an appointment to donate blood today. Community members can also help support the blood supply by organizing a blood drive. Community organizations, businesses, fire and police departments, schools, and other groups are encouraged to get involved. Learn more about hosting a blood drive here.
