A LIFE-SAVING STRATEGY FOR THE TIDEWATER REGION
Help Save Lives
Whole Blood Transfusion by EMS in the Field
Community engagement is vital to maintain, sustain and expand this program across the ten jurisdictions in the Tidewater EMS Council region which runs from the Eastern Shore out through Southampton County. Individuals, businesses and healthcare organizations all have a role to play in supporting the Whole Blood Initiative.
Tidewater EMS Council is a 501 (c) (3) organization and serves the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and the counties of Accomack, Isle of Wight, Northampton and Southampton.
DR. MICHAEL MARTYAK
Help Us Change The Outcome For Our Region
EACH YEAR 1.9 MILLION PEOPLE DIE WORLDWIDE DUE TO UNCONTROLLED BLEEDING WHICH HAS MADE BLOOD-LOSS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH FROM INJURY.
Whole Blood
About the Program
Starting in October 2022, EMS agencies in the Tidewater region began carrying cold-stored whole blood for treating patients with major blood loss on their way to a hospital. The program was rolled out in Virginia Beach and expanded to Chesapeake in April 2023. Growth to other localities will take place as we progress through the campaign. This initiative will positively affect the lives of many citizens throughout the greater Hampton Roads area.
Program Point of Contact
David Long
Why Whole Blood Is Needed
With the increase in violence from incidents like mass shootings, the TEMS Trauma Performance Improvement Committee began looking at trauma-related data and found that whole blood delivered by EMS would improve the quality of care delivered in the Tidewater region. The Whole Blood Initiative is an innovative solution that allows whole blood to be administered in the field to reduce hemorrhage-related complications and deaths from traumatic injuries. TEMS is excited to bring this program to the Tidewater Region.
How the Program Works
TEMS estimates that there is a need for 240 units of blood
annually to be administered to trauma patients in the field. A donation campaign is underway to raise funds to cover the startup costs and annual operations costs which depends on donations from public, businesses and community partners.
TEMS is working with The Blood Connection to get a steady supply of whole blood. In addition, TEMS will be coordinating quarterly blood drives to contribute to the supply of whole blood. The program began in October 2022 in Virginia Beach with Supervisor vehicles carrying whole blood used to treat trauma patients directly at the scene. With increased funding the program will expand to other cities and counties in the region as well as begin to serve pediatric patients and help with medical situations outside of trauma.
OF TRAUMA DEATHS ARE DUE TO HEMORRHAGIC-SHOCK
UNITS OF BLOOD ARE ESTIMATED TO BE ADMINISTERED EVERY YEAR
OF POPULATION CAN RECEIVE O+ BLOOD WHICH IS THE PREFERRED TYPE TO BE TRANSFUSED
ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM
Whole Blood
Benefits of the Program
Research indicates that trauma is the leading cause of death in people 46 years old and younger in the United States yet up to 25% of trauma deaths are potentially survivable with the administration of whole blood. These positive results have been documented since 2017 when programs for pre-hospital use of whole blood for trauma patients began.
Superior Product
In our current system of treatment for hemorrhage-related traumas, pre-hospital patients have received IV therapy or components of blood for stabilization. However, whole blood is far superior to components (packed red blood cells, plasma, and platelets) in terms of content and benefit. Most importantly, it includes essential clotting factors that aren’t present in components. Numerous studies conducted by military and civilian medical personnel have shown that if whole blood is administered to trauma patients early enough, it leads to improved outcomes for these patients.
Time Sensitive
Greater Odds of Survival
Frequently Asked Questions
The Whole Blood Initiative started in October 2022 in Virginia Beach, expanded to Chesapeake in April 2023 with planned growth to other localities as funding and training can be supported.
Initially, Whole Blood was only used to treat adult trauma patients, however, in October 2023 service began for the treatment of pediatric patients and other medical cases.
The Blood Connection is the contracted provider of the blood supply for this program. Blood Drives in Hampton Roads coordinated by Tidewater EMS Council, will contribute to the whole blood inventory needed to support this program.
No, the Whole Blood Initiative Program is funded by the Tidewater EMS Council and contributions by the participating jurisdictions. It will be sustained by donations from individuals, businesses, and healthcare organizations.
The mission of the Tidewater EMS Council is to facilitate regional cooperation, planning, and implementation of an integrated emergency medical services delivery system for the region.
For this program, TEMS was perfectly positioned to do the research, assemble the required community partnerships, establish the protocols and provide oversight for the launch of this critical service on a regional level.
Tidewater EMS Council continues to act as the organizational lead for the Whole Blood Initiative. Please contact David Long/Executive Director to partner with TEMS or provide sponsorship for this program.
Community engagement is vital to maintain, sustain and expand this program across the ten jurisdictions in the Tidewater EMS Council region which runs from the Eastern Shore out through Southampton County. Individuals, businesses, and healthcare organizations all have a role to play in supporting the Whole Blood Initiative.
Financial contributions to the Whole Blood Initiative Campaign are greatly appreciated and will help ensure this critical service is fully implemented.
Another way to support the Initiative is to become a blood donor at a TEMS-sponsored blood drive, which will be held quarterly.
TESTIMONIALs
Program Impact
Support for the Whole Blood Initiative.
William Shackleford
"With the Whole Blood Initiative, we’re bringing the TEMS region to the cutting edge of medicine in the pre-hospital arena."
David Long
”Currently the blood’s out there, but it’s out there in a limited capacity. We’re trying to implement this program throughout the region because it’s through the region-wide implementation that we’re going to realize the full impact that whole blood in the field can have in saving lives.”
Dr. Joseph Kotora
"This is truly a leap forward for EMS. Just the idea that the system is willing to do this and to offer this to the citizens is outstanding and truly inspiring from the pre-hospital side and from the emergency medicine side.”
Help Support the Whole Blood Initiative Today!
Whether you donate money or give blood at one of our quarterly blood drives, anything you can do to support this program can save lives.