Sussex County EMS Carrying Whole Blood

Sussex County Emergency Medical Services is teaming with the Blood Bank of Delmarva to launch a new program that provides paramedics with the capability to administerwhole blood transfusions when caring forcritically sick and injured patients while en route to a hospital, providing a critical, timely - and potentially lifesaving - treatment to those suffering shock from blood loss. SCEMS will be the first agency in Delaware to implement this new treatment forpatients. County EMS units rolled out the program on May 23, 2023, afterannouncing the partnership with County Council's approval of the blood bank agreement earlierthat month. This state-of-the-art clinical initiative allows forthe transfusion of whole blood, a critical life-saving measure that has not been previously available in Delaware pre-hospital care. Patien t transports to area hospitals, conducted by local fire companies and EMS crews, with County paramedics providing care on acute cases, can sometimes exceed 30 minutes. The time lost in transport can decrease a critical patient’s chance of survival. By adding the ability to provide whole blood in the field, medical professionals are hopeful the step will significantly increase these patients’ chances of survival.

- Submitted by Glenn Marshal