Patients in Harford County suffering from trauma and/or internal bleeding that results in substantial blood loss can now receive a whole blood transfusion before they get to a hospital or trauma center, significantly increasing their chances of survival.

Statistics show that patients who receive whole blood before going into cardiac arrest from blood loss have a 90 to 100 percent survivability rate.

Since implementation in September, Harford’s Whole Blood Program – a regional partnership with Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and Inova Blood Donor Services – blood has been administered four times by career, credentialed paramedics to patients in critical condition.

From the county press release:

“This vital resource is proven to save lives in traumatic and medical emergencies,” County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “It is a major advancement in pre-hospital care and potentially lifesaving for Harford County residents.”

Blood is on-hand and available around the clock and replenished as it is used. Units not used in a two-week period is returned to Sinai, where they are used in the trauma center or are broken down and used for their components.

Patients are given type O-positive whole blood. Whole blood contains all blood components: red blood cells that carry oxygen and plasma and platelets that promote clotting. Antibodies have also been removed from the blood, reducing the chances of a reaction and allowing providers to give blood to anyone with any blood type.