Lincoln Fire and Rescue can now give blood to patients with severe bleeding before they reach a hospital. The department announced the program Tuesday, saying an EMS supervisor will respond alongside an ambulance when a patient may need a transfusion.
The supervisor vehicle will carry two units of blood in a temperature-controlled cooler. LFR says its EMS supervisors have received additional training and will follow strict criteria, with a physician overseeing every transfusion and reviewing each case afterward.
LFR expects to give blood to about two patients a month. For now, the blood will be carried in one vehicle; officials say they will monitor demand before deciding whether to expand the program.
Nebraska Community Blood Bank Executive Director Cheryl Warholoski said donations are essential to keeping blood available both in the field and at hospitals. “None of it is possible without blood donors,” she said. “The blood carried by Lincoln Fire and Rescue comes from people in our community who take the time to roll up their sleeves and donate.”
LFR says each unit can be tracked from donor to patient. Blood that is not used in the field will be returned to the blood bank before it nears expiration so it can be used elsewhere. The department plans to track how quickly patients receive blood, their condition when they reach the hospital, whether any units are wasted and whether patients survive.