The American College of Surgeons (ACS) held a press conference Monday to provide official support of prehospital blood programs offered by EMS agencies across the country.
Further supporting the actions of EMS in the chain of survival for trauma patients, ACS expressed prehospital blood programs have the ability to significantly improve patient’s chances of survival.
Highlighting the importance of having well developed blood banking systems and advance in hospital trauma systems are critically important in supporting EMS agencies attempting to offer these programs.
Access to immediate blood and associated products required to safely administer blood in the prehospital setting offers the best chance of survival of critically injured patients following catastrophic events.
The ACS has committed to working with EMS agencies, blood banks and hospitals to ensure that blood administration in the prehospital setting becomes the recognized stands of care for all trauma patients in the U.S.
By working with EMS agencies across the country, the ACS has provided the necessary expertise and support in the development of protocols for prehospital blood administration as well as much needed support while engaging with hospitals and blood bank organizations in setting up these types of programs.
The ACS emphasized key points during the press conference:
- Prehospital blood transfusion can significantly improve the survival rates of trauma patients.
- EMS providers need to be trained on how to administer blood products.
- Hospitals need to have a well-developed blood banking system in place to support prehospital blood transfusion.
- The ACS is committed to working with EMS agencies, hospitals and blood banks to ensure that prehospital blood transfusion is a standard of care for trauma patients.
Identifying that EMS agencies cannot undertake these types of programs alone, the ACS believes that prehospital blood transfusion is a “game-changer” for trauma care and has the ability to significantly impact patient outcomes.
By providing EMS providers with the tools, resources and support they need to administer blood products at the scene of the accident, improvements to the survival rates of all trauma patients is possible.
