Why Prehospital Blood Transfusion Matters

Trauma is the leading cause of death in those 45 years of age and younger, with uncontrolled bleeding as the primary cause of preventable trauma deaths. Emerging evidence strongly supports the early administration of blood products in the field to improve survival in patients experiencing hemorrhagic shock.^1-3 Research shows that early, prehospital blood transfusion has the potential to save 10,000 lives a year.⁴

“This could save more American lives than any other initiative in our lifetime.” – John Holcolmb, M.D., FACS 

The first hour is critical, yet transport from injury to definitive care often exceeds 90 minutes in rural areas and 60 minutes in urban areas.

Prehospital blood transfusion brings blood directly to the scene but implementing it safely and sustainably requires a partner, like Vitalant, that has the scale, expertise and trust to do it right.

Benefits of Establishing a Prehospital Transfusion Program

• Enable EMS teams to administer blood at the scene, providing emergency transfusions before hospital arrival for trauma and medical use.
• Improve survival rates for trauma patients. For every one-minute delay in prehospital resuscitation there was a 2% increase in odds of 30-day mortality.⁵
• Enhance community readiness. By implementing safe and cost-effective prehospital care, EMS agencies can respond effectively to violent injury, crashes and mass casualty incidents.

Benefits of Partnering with Vitalant

• Vitalant is uniquely positioned to support EMS agencies nationwide, thanks to our national footprint, longstanding relationships with hospitals and EMS systems, deep expertise in blood safety and stewardship, and mission‑driven nonprofit model. This combination enables responsible program expansion that prioritizes patient safety, equity and measurable impact. With Vitalant as your partner, your organization can strengthen trauma readiness, launch and maintain reliable blood‑on‑board programs, and deliver lifesaving care to more patients when they need it most.

Vitalant can provide:

• Blood products: Low-titer O + whole blood (LTO+WB), liquid plasma (LP) and red blood cells (RBCs).
• Expert guidance: Vitalant can share best practices and resources for needs assessment, program development, documentation, equipment and logistical considerations, training and competency, and quality assurance.
• Support Network: Vitalant has extensive experience assisting agencies with prehospital program implementation. Vitalant serves as a connector by linking organizations with peers that have successfully adopted prehospital blood programs, helping streamline and accelerate adoption.

Blood Products for Prehospital Transfusion

Vitalant provides the specialized products needed for prehospital transfusion: low‑titer O whole blood (LTO+WB), red blood cells (RBCs) and liquid plasma configured for field transfusion protocols.
View Blood Products List

Strengthening the Blood Supply Together

A steady blood supply is essential for prehospital programs and other lifesaving care, yet blood donations don’t always keep pace with the need. Proactive participation in blood drives helps maintain adequate inventory, while purposeful patient and community engagement educates and motivates donors to ensure a resilient, lifesaving supply.