Whole Blood FAQs

VCFD Paramedics Introduce On-Scene Blood Transfusions

Every day, Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) firefighter EMTs and paramedics perform numerous life-saving interventions throughout Ventura County. Soon, VCFD has added an innovative new tool to its EMS toolkit: whole blood transfusions.

In traumatic injury cases or when a patient experiences severe bleeding, a blood transfusion is often needed as soon as the patient arrives at the hospital. Rapid transfusions are essential, as patients with critical blood loss may not survive without immediate intervention. Now, thanks to support from the Vitalant, our local hospitals, and generous blood donors, VCFD is bringing hospital-grade blood transfusions directly to patients in the field.

By administering blood on-site, VCFD aims to significantly increase patients’ chances of survival. Studies show that rapid blood transfusion in the field can more than double the odds of recovery and discharge from the hospital.

When Can Whole Blood Be Used? 

Whole blood transfusions are most effective in severe cases of blood loss, such as motor vehicle accidents, crush injuries, violence-related injuries, and traumatic amputations. Additionally, whole blood may benefit patients experiencing hemorrhage due to medical conditions like gastrointestinal bleeding, a ruptured aorta, or bleeding related to childbirth.

How is Blood Sourced and Prepared? 

Blood is collected from volunteer donors, carefully screened, and processed to ensure it’s safe for emergency use. VCFD will use “low-titer type-O whole blood” (LTOWB), filtered and treated to reduce the risk of transfusion reactions, making it safer for patients of all blood types.

The blood VCFD uses will be stored at a regional blood bank, ensuring that it remains safe, fresh, and ready for rapid deployment. Medical storage devices in designated VCFD rescue ambulances and rescue helicopters will maintain a strict temperature control protocol to preserve the blood’s quality until it’s needed in the field.

Are Whole Blood Transfusions Safe? 

Yes, field transfusions use the same type of whole blood hospitals rely on. EMS systems across the country have safely adopted this practice, and studies show that adverse reactions to these transfusions are rare.

Who is Eligible for Prehospital Transfusions? 

Whole blood transfusions will be available to patients over the age of 15 who are experiencing life-threatening hemorrhage. VCFD firefighter paramedics follow a detailed set of protocols to determine when a transfusion is appropriate, ensuring a safe, standardized approach to each case.

Can Whole Blood Be Given to Children? 

Yes, VCFD’s blood transfusion protocols allow trained firefighter paramedics to administer transfusions to children over 15, with consultation from pediatric experts as an additional safety measure.

What if a Patient Refuses a Transfusion? 

Patient consent is critical. VCFD firefighter paramedics and EMTs must obtain verbal consent from conscious adults and parental consent for children. When patients cannot provide consent due to injuries, VCFD will take all appropriate steps to save lives, including administering transfusions when necessary.

As part of our whole blood transfusion training program, our paramedics are trained to look for medical alert tags, wallet cards, or any patient-specific treatment directives prior to initiating a transfusion. Conscious patients with decision-making capacity can refuse blood transfusion at any time. For unconscious patients our providers will quickly search for any of these medical alert items before initiating transfusion.  

How Widely Available Will This Program Be? 

VCFD is prioritizing deployment of the whole blood transfusion program to areas where the need for rapid intervention is highest. Our highly trained firefighter paramedics, stationed on rescue ambulances, will be equipped with blood units and prepared to respond across the county within minutes. This strategic placement ensures we can deliver life-saving care quickly, wherever it’s needed most.

Will Prehospital Blood Transfusion Really Make a Difference?
Absolutely. Research indicates that early whole-blood transfusion can substantially improve survival rates for trauma patients. A 2022 study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that administering whole blood within 35 minutes of injury in severely injured trauma patients improves 30-day survival rates by up to 60% and reduces the need for additional blood products during the first 24 hours of hospitalization. This research highlights the critical, life-saving impact that rapid blood transfusions by EMS can have in the field.

This initiative represents a major advancement in prehospital care, providing patients with life-saving interventions that traditionally would only be available at hospitals. VCFD is proud to be part of this progressive step forward in EMS and trauma care, made possible by community support and the dedication of our highly trained firefighter paramedics.