New Whole Blood Program Aims To Save Lives

HARFORD COUNTY, MD ? Patients in Harford County suffering from a trauma or internal bleeding that leads to a substantial blood loss now can receive a whole blood transfusion while en route to a hospital or trauma center, which experts say significantly increases their chances of survival.

Statistics show that patients who receive whole blood before going into cardiac arrest from blood loss have a 90 to 100 percent survivability rate. Harford County leaders launched in September the Harford?s Whole Blood Program, a regional partnership with Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and Inova Blood Donor Services, where blood has been administered four times by career, credentialed paramedics to patients in critical condition.

?This vital resource is proven to save lives in traumatic and medical emergencies,? Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. ?It is a major advancement in pre-hospital care and potentially lifesaving for Harford County residents.?

Blood is on-hand and available around the clock and replenished as it is used. Units not used in a two-week period are returned to Sinai, where they are used in the trauma center or are broken down and used for their components.

Patients are given type O-positive whole blood through this initiative. Whole blood contains all blood components: red blood cells that carry oxygen and plasma and platelets that promote clotting. Antibodies have also been removed from the blood, reducing the chances of a reaction and allowing providers to give blood to anyone with any blood type.