CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority has joined a statewide initiative enabling first responders to perform whole blood transfusions in the field.
Since launching the program last year, the West Virginia Department of Health’s EMS Office reports significant improvements in saving lives and enhancing trauma care outcomes, MetroNews reported.
“It will change lives, to put it mildly,” Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority Education Manager Rita White said. “Because we know that getting blood products to those who are hemorrhaging, the sooner you get it to the patient, the better the outcome they have.”
Cabell County EMS began offering whole blood transfusions on ambulances in November 2023, with Harrison County joining in March 2024.
White stated they are in the final stages of implementing the program.
“We have the equipment and are finalizing legalities and blood acquisition processes to join others across the state already administering blood in 911 emergencies,” she said.
The Charleston Fire Department is also finalizing its program launch, while Camden Clark Ambulance Service is in the early development stages and Mineral County is collaborating with WVU Medicine to implement the initiative.
