First Responders Expand Use of Whole Blood

A recent MassLive story by reporter Heather Morrison painted the dramatic picture of a car crash victim suffering from low blood pressure, shock and internal bleeding – a combination that could easily turn fatal. But area first responders had a new tool – whole blood transfusion. And in a “first” for Massachusetts, the transfusion was administered at the accident scene and likely saved the victim’s life.

In March, Boston Medical Center worked with the Canton Fire Department and other communities to launch the pilot program that made the difference for this accident victim.

According to Franklin Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Barbieri, his department does have resources to contact to get whole blood when needed. “We have used air medical transport such as Boston Medflight and UMass Life Flight in the past as those resources do have access to whole blood,” he explained. In fact, some Franklin patients have received blood from these services. Franklin Fire can also call upon the Canton Fire team “as we do work with them.”

“We have members assigned to the Norfolk County Technical Rescue Team that Canton is part of and if we were to call them it would be under certain circumstances where there would be a prolonged extrication, etc.,” he said.

Barbieri also noted that while the Canton transfusion may have been a first, it is not likely to dramatically alter first responder policies.

“It is my understanding that the specific Canton program is currently being done under a special project waiver through the Massachusetts Office Of Emergency Medical Services in conjunction with Boston Medical Center,” he explained. The project is being carefully studied for the impact to patients and pre-hospital medical providers in the field and adheres to strict guidelines under the special project conditions. “Not every dispatch of this specific intercept unit results in blood being given as patients must meet the specific criteria,” he added.