Orange County Fire Rescue, in partnership with OneBlood and Orlando Health, has announced a new program that will allow its paramedics to perform blood transfusions in the field.
This lifesaving program is expected to significantly increase a patient’s chances of survival, according to OCFR.
In 2023, OCFR paramedics transported over 900 trauma alert patients. Each of these patients had incurred “multisystem injury” and required immediate intervention.
While working with Orlando Regional Medical Center, OCFR learned that more than 200 of the trauma alert patients transported last year had required “whole blood” transfusions after arriving at the hospital.
Under the new program, OCFR paramedics are now able to perform blood transfusions on patients prior to reaching the hospital.
“We’re excited for this new partnership and to become the first department in Central Florida to do this,” stated Orange County Fire Rescue on social media.