Marietta Daily Journal
ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service (MAAS) has become one of the first private EMS providers in the Southeast to launch a prehospital whole blood transfusion program, with coverage spanning Bartow, Cobb and Paulding Counties.
This effort brings critical care directly to the scene of major trauma incidents, delivering whole blood to patients before they reach an emergency room.
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“Trauma patients with life-threatening bleeding often don’t have time to wait,” said Dr. Yuko Nakajima, MAAS medical director. “Starting a transfusion in the field gives seriously injured patients a fighting chance by restoring oxygen delivery and stabilizing vital signs before they reach definitive care.”
MASS said the urgency of hemorrhage control is critical because traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans under 45, and hemorrhage is responsible for more than 30% of those deaths. In many cases, patients bleed out within the first hour, long before hospital intervention is possible.
Historically, EMS crews rely on fluids like normal saline to manage shock, but these do little to address actual blood loss. Whole blood transfusions, by contrast, provide oxygen-carrying red cells, clotting factors, and volume all in one bag.
“It’s a game-changer,” said paramedic supervisor Chris Davis, “Instead of just buying time, we’re now delivering the treatment these patients will benefit from at the exact moment they need it most.”
MAAS is scaling a model to serve one of the largest geographic EMS coverage areas in the state. With a team of over 800 full and part-time certified medics, the organization said it is well-positioned to roll out this capability quickly and effectively.
Advanced life support units will carry two units of low-titer Type O whole blood stored in temperature-controlled containers and monitored for safety and shelf-life. MAAS paramedics have received specialized training in blood administration, identification of hemorrhagic shock and management of transfusion reactions.
The multi-county launch is designed to ensure equitable access across both urban and rural trauma zones. In fast-growing Bartow and Paulding counties, where hospital transport times can be stretched due to geography, the company said the impact may be especially profound.
The program is expected to treat dozens of trauma patients within its first year. According to national data, early blood transfusions could reduce mortality by up to 48% in patients with severe hemorrhage.
On August 16, 2025, Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service responded to a 9-1-1 call in the city of Smyrna involving a patient who had been severely stabbed and was experiencing massive hemorrhaging. Crewmembers quickly stabilized the injury and administered whole blood while en route to the hospital. This intervention restored oxygenation, supported clotting, and stabilized circulation, significantly increasing the patient’s chances of surviving to definitive surgical care.
“This patient was unresponsive and deteriorating rapidly from the massive blood loss. I truly believe that being able to replace blood with blood made an immediate difference in the definitive outcome for this patient,” said Rob Bozicevich, MAAS Clinical Services & Quality Management manager.
While prehospital blood transfusions are common in military combat zones and select urban EMS systems, their adoption in the civilian sector has been slower mainly due to cost and logistical challenges. MAAS’s initiative demonstrates how private EMS agencies, when supported by strong hospital, public-private partnerships and regional planning, can lead in implementing lifesaving innovations setting up a model for the future.
State Rep. Devan Seabaugh, an executive with MAAS, said this is exactly the kind of innovation that will save lives and increase positive outcomes for patients experiencing emergencies in our community.
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