APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Emergency medical service personnel in Appleton performed a pre-hospital whole blood transfusion on Monday, ultimately saving the patient’s life.
According to a release , Monday morning’s call involved Gold Cross Medic 6, Appleton Fire Engine 9321, and Gold Cross ALS100 (Gold Cross’ Rapid Response Vehicle), all responding to a critical emergency.
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The patient was reportedly experiencing significant blood loss and dangerously low blood pressure, requiring immediate intervention. The patient met the criteria for a pre-hospital whole blood transfusion – a rare and lifesaving procedure in the field.
Thanks to the teamwork between the departments, one unit of blood was administered en route to the hospital, with the patient showing near-instantaneous improvements and stabilizing quickly.
The release notes that this marks the first time in the region that a pre-hospital blood transfusion has been administered by ground EMS.