Four central Kentucky EMS agencies are already seeing life-saving results from a new prehospital blood transfusion program — and organizers hope to expand it statewide. The program, which was launched last June, has administered prehospital blood in 79 cases across all four departments.

How the Program Works

Through a partnership with the Kentucky Blood Center and UK Healthcare, the Lexington Fire Department and EMS agencies in Madison, Scott, and Jessamine counties are now equipped with blood and trained to transfuse it while en route to the hospital. Each agency keeps a cooler with one unit of universal donor blood in its supervisor vehicle. When a trauma or bleeding call comes in, blood is rushed to the scene.

Unused units return to UK Hospital a week before expiration, ensuring nothing goes to waste. According to Jessamine County EMS Assistant Chief Floyd Miracle, the results have exceeded expectations. “We are just astonished at how much one unit of blood improves vital signs and improves patients’ outcome,” Miracle said.

The initiative took more than five years to develop. Now, organizers are focused on bringing the program to other parts of Kentucky. A prehospital blood academy is in the works for this fall. If you are part of an EMS agency that would like to get involved, contact Jessamine County EMS at [email protected].

The best way to help save a life is to donate blood. If you’re interested in donating, you can learn how to donate through the Kentucky Blood Center.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.