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West Virginia is the first state in the country to provide statewide protocols for administering whole blood on ambulances.
Whole blood transfusions rapidly restore blood volume and enhance clotting, allowing severe trauma patients to survive the ambulance ride to the hospital.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health (DH), severe bleeding is one of the leading causes of trauma-related death, and early stabilization is critical to saving lives.
“Our commitment to expanding this life-saving program is unwavering,” said DH Secretary Sherri Young. “We are actively working to extend the availability of whole blood transfusions to more counties with the goal of achieving statewide coverage.”
Cabell County launched the program in November 2023, and Harrison County joined the program in March 2024. Since then, a total of 21 units of whole blood have been administered to 16 patients statewide who were able to make it to the hospital for lifesaving treatment.
“Thanks to these advancements, patients are receiving critical care in the field that significantly improves their chances of survival,” said Joseph Ratliff, director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services. “All patients who received whole blood transfusions in the field have successfully reached hospitals where they could receive definitive care.”
The program is in its final stages of implementation in Kanawha County with its ambulance authority and the Charleston Fire Department.
Camden Clark Ambulance Service, which serves Wood County, is in the beginning stages of developing its whole blood program.
Mineral County has the necessary equipment and is working to implement the program with the assistance of WVU Medicine.
In a press release, DH said blood donations are critical to sustaining and expanding the whole blood program and encouraged West Virginians to donate blood through the Red Cross.
