If someone gets into a bad car crash or has a serious fall that leads to hemorrhagic bleeding, first responders will typically administer IV fluids to stabilize the patient before transporting them to a hospital.
But increasingly, local emergency medical agencies are adopting an emerging alternative: whole blood.
Put simply, it’s the blood that flows through our bodies. With all of its components intact – red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma – it quickly helps stop bleeding, replaces blood and delivers oxygen to organs. A growing body of research suggests transfusing it early, on-scene may increase a trauma patient’s chance of survival…