EMT’s Now Able To Do Blood Transfusions On Emergency Calls

The Riverside County Emergency Medical Services Agency is launching what is called the Prehospital Adult Blood Transfusion program.

This will  allow Emergency Medical Services professionals to administer blood products in the field. 

This program, developed in collaboration with Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino and Ventura counties and the State of California EMS Authority, aims to enhance the quality of pre-hospital care, especially for trauma patients requiring immediate intervention before arriving at the hospital due to internal bleeding.

The City of Corona is the first municipality in Riverside County to implement this critical program. By enabling EMS personnel to provide blood products directly at the scene of an emergency, they can significantly improve patient outcomes during life-threatening situations. 

To learn about donating blood or to find a donor center, go to LStream.org.

“This program is a significant advancement in emergency medical services,” said Dr. Reza Vaezazizi, Medical Director for the Riverside County EMS Agency. “With trained EMS professionals now authorized to administer blood products in the field, we are enhancing our capability to deliver timely and effective lifesaving care.”

The program is the result of comprehensive training and rigorous protocol development for participating EMS personnel. The Riverside County EMS Agency is committed to ensuring that all procedures related to the administration of blood products are performed safely and in accordance with best practices. As the program rolls out, data will be collected and analyzed to evaluate its effectiveness and impact on patient care.

“The field administration of blood for certain critical trauma patients is a new and growing capability in EMS systems nationally, and we are delighted to support the local EMS agencies leading California in establishing these programs,” stated Dr. Hernando Garzon of the California EMS Authority. “This initiative showcases our dedication to improving patient survival rates and providing state of the art medical care in the field.”

The Riverside County EMS Agency encourages community members to support this important program by donating blood through LifeStream and the American Red Cross. The City of Corona has already initiated blood drives with LifeStream to build blood supplies within the City. To learn about donating blood or to find a donor center, go to LStream.org.

Four pouches of human blood in storage.

Photo from Riverside County Emergency Medical Services Agency Nov 22nd 2024