Source: UW Health
Trauma is one of the leading causes of death, with severe blood loss often being a deciding factor in survival. In these critical moments, a swift response with the right resources is the difference between life and death.
According to national data, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. with a traumatic hemorrhage die within the first 24 hours of the injury. Whole blood makes a difference in these situations, especially if it’s used within the first hour after the injury.
That’s why UW Health Med Flight now carries whole blood on every transport, ensuring that trauma patients receive life-saving transfusions immediately—even before they reach the hospital. Whole blood transfusions provide all the critical components needed to stabilize patients in a single step, buying precious time during transport.
“The addition of whole blood to our capabilities allows our flight crews to begin resuscitation with the same blood product that the UW Health trauma center utilizes, essentially bringing this high level of critical care outside of the walls of the trauma center to wherever a person may be,” says Dr. Ryan Newberry, assistant medical director.
Less than 10% of Wisconsin’s hospitals can care for the most critically injured trauma patients. By adding whole blood use in patient transport, UW Health is joining the forefront in treating life-threatening bleeding, reaffirming its commitment to innovation in life-saving medicine.
Learn more about this life-changing advancement and its impact on trauma care at UWHealth.org 