MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Gold Cross Ambulance is now the second emergency response service in Wisconsin equipped to provide whole blood transfusions to patients during life-threatening medical situations.
It comes just a few weeks after the Wauwatosa Fire Department went live with their integration of whole blood products.
“In the past, trauma care and EMS was pretty limited. Really, we were focused on securing an airway, controlling any major bleeding that’s happening and getting to a trauma center as fast as possible,” explained Nick Romenesko, executive director of Gold Cross Ambulance. “Now, we have a brand new tool in the tool kit for our paramedics and our nurses who are on our rapid response vehicle, to be able to infuse whole blood to these patients to replace what they have lost as a result of a traumatic incident.”
Up until March 2024, first responders were not authorized by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to offer patients whole blood transfusions. Romenesko said this was due to a lack of research on administration of whole blood in the pre-hospital setting by paramedics and EMTs.
But after a rule change, emergency responders are now allowed to give blood transfusions on the scene or in the back of an ambulance transporting a patient to a hospital. Gold Cross officials say it will make a big difference in emergency medical situations where every second counts.
“What this will do is it will give us the ability to correct life-threatening bleeds and life-threatening blood dyscrasias because of trauma. So what that means for our patients is improved outcomes,” said Erin Rusch, operations manager for Gold Cross.
Some patients will not and do not survive to even get blood at the hospital in the trauma centers. We have seen numerous patients, even within right here in our region, that having blood in the field is absolutely pivotal in getting them even to the trauma center.
Gold Cross has collaborated extensively with local hospitals, blood banks and trauma specialists to become equipped to carry whole blood products. Its EMS team has also undergone specialized training to ensure safe and effective transfusion procedures.
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