Trending Topics

Wis. FD begins carrying whole blood

The Kenosha Fire Department became the state’s first fire-based EMS to carry whole blood on all front-line ambulances

kenoshafiredepartment.jpg

Kenosha Fire Department’s Medic 4 crew is stocking up on blood product.

Kenosha Fire Department/Facebook

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha Fire Department has become the first fire-based EMS service in the state to equip its ambulances with whole blood, WTMJ reported.

Through its new pre-hospital blood administration program, paramedics can now deliver life-saving transfusions at the scene, according to WTMJ.

“We can give blood 20 to 30 minutes faster than if we were to transport to a hospital and wait for the transfusion there,” Fire Chief William Glass said. “Blood is the only thing that carries oxygen to your brain and to your organs and it’s important that we get that replenished as soon as possible.”

Kenosha’s ambulances are now equipped with O-negative packed red blood cells, the universal donor type, making them ready to treat anyone experiencing severe blood loss.

To support the new initiative, the department will host a community blood drive on April 25.

Trending
The benefits are numerous, but the startup can be daunting; become a meal-prepping pro with these top-rated solutions
An SUV crashed into a group of motorcyclists a Kalamazoo gas station injuring seven people and causing major damage
To address the care gap left by Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s closure, UMass Memorial Health plans to open a satellite emergency facility in Groton with input from EMS leaders
A crash involving a school bus on I-77 in Chester County left an eighth-grade boy dead and sent students and adults to the hospital