Two health centers in Northern Colorado are partnering to help increase survival odds to patients experiencing severe trauma. The two ambulance providers will now start carrying whole Type O positive blood in some of their emergency response vehicles after learning it could play a vital role in helping someone survive a medical emergency.
UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation and Thompson Valley EMS will both start administering whole blood to trauma patients in the field instead of waiting to provide the whole blood at the hospital.
“When people have been suffering blood loss, we have been treating that by trying to replace it with salt water, normal saline. That doesn’t provide anywhere close to the benefits people need,” said David Edwards, battalion chief for Thompson Valley.
Dr. Warren Dorlac, trauma surgeon at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies, served in the military. He said the lessons learned while treating soldiers on the battleground have now translated to care in Northern Colorado.