Milwaukee County is celebrating one year of its innovative whole blood transfusion program, which brings life‑saving blood directly to trauma scenes instead of waiting until patients reach the hospital. Through a partnership between Milwaukee County EMS, local fire departments, and Versiti Blood Center, first responders can now begin critical transfusions within minutes.
In the past year, 38 patients — including four children — received whole blood before arriving at a hospital. County officials say many of these individuals likely would not have survived without the early intervention. Dr. Ben Weston, the county’s chief health policy advisor, notes that the program is reshaping emergency care across the region.
A key tool enabling this progress is the Delta ICE Smart Blood Cooler, which keeps whole blood within the required temperature range during transport and on scene, ensuring it’s ready when responders need it most.
As the first program of its kind in Wisconsin, Milwaukee County is setting a powerful new standard for pre‑hospital trauma care. Read more here.