Edmond ambulances are getting ready to carry something most ground crews across the country don't: whole blood, ready to be transfused into a critically bleeding patient before they ever reach a hospital. American Medical Response, the city's ambulance provider, announced it is teaming up with Our Blood Institute to launch the program.
The partnership would let AMR Edmond crews carry and administer whole blood directly in the field, according to KOKH. Edmond city leaders said they hope the new partnership will soon lead to better outcomes for patients suffering traumatic injuries.
Why Seconds Matter in the Back of an Ambulance
Severe bleeding remains one of the leading preventable causes of death following a traumatic injury, per the same report. Whole blood administered before a patient reaches the hospital can improve outcomes for those injuries, and the stakes tied to speed are stark: experts have associated a one-minute delay in critical resuscitative interventions with a 2% increase in 30-day mortality, the outlet notes.
National EMS guidance describes how a prehospital blood transfusion program enables EMS agencies to supply lifesaving blood or blood components to trauma patients, according to EMS.gov. Early blood administration by EMS may improve outcomes for patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock, one reason agencies are exploring the approach Edmond is pursuing.
A Small Club of Ambulance Programs
Once launched, AMR Edmond would join less than 2% of ground EMS agencies nationwide able to carry and administer whole blood in the prehospital setting, the station reported. That rarity is part of what makes the announcement notable for a mid-sized Oklahoma city rather than a major metro trauma system.
The capability gives crews a way to provide transfusions before patients reach the hospital, illustrating how blood-carrying ambulances can put the resource to use.
What Comes Next for Edmond
The partnership is intended to ensure Edmond AMR ambulances have blood available for patients in need during a critical event.
City leaders' hope, as relayed to KOKH, is straightforward — that having blood on board before a patient ever reaches an emergency room could lead to better outcomes for Edmond residents facing the most severe traumatic injuries.
