By Annette Cary
Tri-City Herald
RICHLAND, Wash. — “For decades EMS has been very good at getting bleeding patients to blood,” said Dr. Kevin Hodges, the medical program director for emergency medical services in Benton and Franklin counties and an emergency medicine doctor at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
“Today represents a fundamental change,” he said. “We’re now bringing blood to the bleeding patients.”
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About two and a half weeks ago the Richland on-duty battalion chief’s command vehicle started carrying two units of whole blood in a cooler with constant electronic monitoring for temperature control.
When emergency medical responders are called to help a patient with major bleeding, the battalion chief arrives with blood to be administered, if needed, before the patient reaches the hospital.
Richland is the first community east of the Cascade Mountains to offer that potentially life-saving service, dubbed “Blood on Board,” according to Richland Fire and Emergency Services.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services estimates that 37% of trauma patients with severe bleeding could be saved by quickly receiving a blood transfusion before reaching a hospital.
Severe bleeding is the primary cause of preventable fatalities in trauma patients, including those in a car crash.
But having blood available to transfuse before they reach a hospital, can save 30% more trauma patients, according to Richland Fire and Emergency Services.
Although there has not been a need to use the blood yet in Richland’s new program, there were 400 potential cases from June 2024 to June 2026 in which patients could have received blood before reaching a hospital.
They included people who had serious injuries, such as from car and motorcycle crashes, and also people with medical issues that resulted in severe bleeding.
“One of the misconceptions is this is only going to be for trauma patients,” said Andy Sabin, a Richland battalion chief and fire marshal, who was instrumental in starting the Blood on Board program.
Trauma patients may make up of the majority of patients who benefit from Blood on Board, but there are also obstetrical emergencies — before, during and after pregnancy — that result in severe bleeding, Sabin said.
Other medical events can include gastrointestinal intestinal issues with bleeding and dialysis patients with bleeding that cannot be controlled.
“When someone’s experiencing significant blood loss, minutes matter,” said Richland Fire Chief Randy Aust. “... Their body loses its ability to deliver oxygen to vital organs.”
That includes the brain, and red blood cells also carry plasma and clotting factors that help stop bleeding, Hodges said. American Red Cross blood
Richland paramedics have completed both on-line and hands-on training on how to handle blood, transfusion procedures, recognizing reactions and practical skills.
Every out-of-hospital transfusion will undergo a case review, including evaluation of indications, reactions and patient outcomes.
The blood, which is Type O, is supplied to the vehicle of the battalion chief on duty rather than every ambulance, to reduce the amount needed from Red Cross donors.
The expiration date of the two units available is monitored. If it has not been given to a patient as the date approaches, it is swapped out to the American Red Cross to supply hospitals that likely will have a use for it sooner. It gives a new supply of blood to Richland Fire and Emergency Services.
The Blood on Board program represents a direct connection between Tri-Cities area blood donors and emergency patient care.
When Richland announced plans for the program earlier this year, it also scheduled a firehouse community blood drive.
The Tri-Cities rallied, donating more than 144 units of blood. It set a Washington state record as the largest single-day blood drive in Washington state , according to Richland officials.
Richland Fire and Emergency Services has organized another blood drive with the American Red Cross as the program has begun.
Blood may be donated 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 23 at Richland Fire Station 74 at 2710 Duportail St.
To register to donate, visit richlandwa.gov/RFESBloodDrive.
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