Just one month after launching their prehospital Whole Blood Program, Hamilton County EMS (HCEMS) reached a landmark milestone: administering the first unit of whole blood in the field. Over the weekend of June 13–14, crews responded to a critical vehicle crash and delivered a transfusion on scene — before the patient ever reached the emergency department. It’s the kind of moment that validates everything a program like this is built for.
Severe bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death in trauma patients, with nearly half of those deaths occurring before the patient reaches definitive care. HCEMS launched their Whole Blood Program on May 13, 2026 — in partnership with Blood Assurance and Erlanger Health System — making Hamilton County one of only a handful of EMS services in Tennessee with this capability. As HCEMS Director Wade Batson said at launch: “This program allows our paramedics to begin delivering the same lifesaving trauma care traditionally only available inside the hospital and select air medical services.”
Behind the program is the infrastructure to make it work in the field. HCEMS equipped their units with the APRU 6L, giving paramedics reliable, field-ready blood storage from station to scene.
With the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” now underway — a stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day that typically brings a surge in traffic crashes and traumatic injuries — the timing of this first transfusion couldn’t be more meaningful. HCEMS and Blood Assurance will also host a community blood drive in July to keep supply strong through the season.
Congratulations to the entire HCEMS team on this milestone. “Every minute matters in trauma care, and having blood available before a patient reaches the hospital can make a critical difference.”