Blood
Maryland initiative makes whole blood available for traumatic events
Maryland is the first state to offer a statewide lifesaving trauma response initiative that carries whole blood aboard state police helicopters.When a Maryland State Police medevac helicopter responds to a scene, emergency teams might only have seconds to provide lifesaving aid to an injured person.Through a new partnership called “Blood on Board,” involving state police, Shock Trauma, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and the University of Maryland Medical Center, the helicopters will carry whole blood for emergency transfusions.Whole blood is blood that has not been separated into components that contain all of the factors necessary for optimal clotting that aids in the resuscitation of patients with extreme bleeding.Injuries can stem from car crashes to workplace accidents and shootings. So far, 21 critically injured people received field transfusions, some of whom may not have been able to survive their injuries without the transfusions.”If you’re in hemorrhagic shock and you get to the hospital with a low, but still a decent blood pressure, your survival is about 30% to 40%. If you proceed to cardiac arrest, your survival is under 1% — it’s a dramatic drop,” said Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at Shock Trauma.The “Blood on Board” project began with an initial rollout on May 10, starting with the Trooper 1 helicopter, based at Martin State Airport in Baltimore County, and the Trooper 2 helicopter, based at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County.The project was expanded to the remaining five Maryland State Police Aviation Command bases in July.
Maryland is the first state to offer a statewide lifesaving trauma response initiative that carries whole blood aboard state police helicopters.
When a Maryland State Police medevac helicopter responds to a scene, emergency teams might only have seconds to provide lifesaving aid to an injured person.
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Through a new partnership called “Blood on Board,” involving state police, Shock Trauma, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and the University of Maryland Medical Center, the helicopters will carry whole blood for emergency transfusions.
Whole blood is blood that has not been separated into components that contain all of the factors necessary for optimal clotting that aids in the resuscitation of patients with extreme bleeding.
Injuries can stem from car crashes to workplace accidents and shootings. So far, 21 critically injured people received field transfusions, some of whom may not have been able to survive their injuries without the transfusions.
“If you’re in hemorrhagic shock and you get to the hospital with a low, but still a decent blood pressure, your survival is about 30% to 40%. If you proceed to cardiac arrest, your survival is under 1% — it’s a dramatic drop,” said Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at Shock Trauma.
The “Blood on Board” project began with an initial rollout on May 10, starting with the Trooper 1 helicopter, based at Martin State Airport in Baltimore County, and the Trooper 2 helicopter, based at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County.
The project was expanded to the remaining five Maryland State Police Aviation Command bases in July.
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