Introduction to Fort Worth’s New Blood Program
Patients with major blood loss in Fort Worth and surrounding communities no longer have to wait until they make it to a hospital to receive lifesaving transfusions, city leaders announced Tuesday. This new development is a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to improve its emergency medical services (EMS) system.
Two supervisor vehicles operated by the Fort Worth EMS system are now carrying universal units of blood to the scene of major injuries and medical episodes across the area, which includes Fort Worth and 14 other municipalities. This move is expected to greatly enhance the city’s ability to respond to emergency situations and save lives.
The Importance of Blood Transfusions in Emergency Care
Dr. Jeff Jarvis, medical director and chief medical officer with the Fort Worth Office of the Medical Director, said at a news conference that traumatic injuries from car crashes, shootings, stabbings, falls, and other accidents kill more children and adults under the age of 45 than anything else. Blood loss is the leading cause of preventable death for injured patients. This highlights the critical need for timely and effective blood transfusions in emergency care.
“We now have the opportunity to give them back the thing that they are losing,” Jarvis said. “And by doing it in the field, we have the opportunity to save precious minutes while we’re getting these patients to our partners in the trauma system.” This statement underscores the significance of the new blood program in saving lives and improving patient outcomes.
Development and Implementation of the Blood Program
Developed over the past two years, Fort Worth’s new blood program is being introduced as the city continues to redesign its EMS system to improve response times, cut costs, and enhance patient care. It is being funded through the Fort Worth Fire Department and managed in collaboration with the Office of the Medical Director; MedStar; John Peter Smith Hospital, one of the city’s Level I trauma centers; and Carter BloodCare, a North Texas blood bank.
The unveiling of the Fort Worth blood program comes about two months after Dallas Fire-Rescue debuted its own pilot blood program, with units of packed red blood cells available at two of its fire stations in northern and southern Dallas. Together, the two programs represent a major advancement in the care available to hemorrhaging patients across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Benefits of Early Access to Blood Transfusions
For patients with severe bleeding, early access to blood transfusions can save lives, medical experts say. In late 2023, a joint investigation by The Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News identified a crucial gap in care — the fact that most emergency medical responders across the country were ill-equipped to treat major bleeding, resulting in dozens of potentially preventable deaths each day.
Research has found that replacement of lost blood through transfusions is the single most effective treatment for reversing the damaging effects of hemorrhagic shock. It’s why field transfusions have long been a standard part of medical care in warzones. Yet across the United States, most paramedics do not carry blood products due to cost, storage, and supply constraints.
Expert Insights and Community Support
“When folks are bleeding, we know that the first thing we want to do is try to stop the bleeding. But we also have to refill that tank, the tank being the body’s circulatory system,” said Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis. Dozens of trauma surgeons and paramedics have told The News that hemorrhaging patients die far too often from otherwise survivable injuries because they bleed out on the way to the hospital or soon after they arrive.
The problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where patients may be many miles or even hours away from trauma centers. But it’s also an epidemic in big cities like Dallas and Fort Worth, where quick ambulance transport times cannot fully compensate for how fast patients can bleed to death.
“The faster we can get bleeding patients blood, the better they will do,” said Dr. Matthew Fultz, a trauma surgeon and trauma medical director at JPS Hospital. Fort Worth’s emergency response leaders encouraged members of the community to support the new blood program by donating blood.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the introduction of Fort Worth’s new blood program is a significant step forward in the city’s efforts to improve its emergency medical services and save lives. By providing early access to blood transfusions, the program aims to reduce the risk of preventable deaths from blood loss and improve patient outcomes. The program’s success will depend on the support of the community, and individuals are encouraged to donate blood to help make a difference.
“Blood is the gift of life,” Davis said. “It’s easy to do.” By donating blood, individuals can help ensure that patients in need have access to this lifesaving resource.
FAQs
Q: What is the new blood program in Fort Worth?
A: The new blood program in Fort Worth is a initiative that provides early access to blood transfusions for patients with severe bleeding. The program is being implemented by the Fort Worth EMS system and is funded through the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Q: How does the program work?
A: The program involves carrying universal units of blood on supervisor vehicles operated by the Fort Worth EMS system. These vehicles will respond to emergency situations and provide blood transfusions to patients in need.
Q: Why is the program important?
A: The program is important because it can help save lives by providing early access to blood transfusions. Blood loss is the leading cause of preventable death for injured patients, and the program aims to reduce this risk.
Q: How can I support the program?
A: Individuals can support the program by donating blood. Donating blood is easy and can help ensure that patients in need have access to this lifesaving resource.
