Innovative Blood Transfusion Program Saves Life in Massachusetts SUV CrashInnovative Blood Transfusion Program Saves Life in Massachusetts SUV Crash A 20-year-old man who was bleeding heavily after crashing his SUV in Walpole, Massachusetts, received a life-saving blood transfusion thanks to the Canton Fire Department’s Field Transfusion Assistance Program. Firefighters responded to the scene and extricated the victim, who was trapped and bleeding profusely. They determined that he needed blood immediately and contacted the Canton Fire Department’s program. Within minutes, firefighters Douglas Connor and Daniel Pendergast arrived with a unit of O-negative blood. The transfusion quickly stabilized the patient’s vital signs, and he was flown to a Boston hospital for further treatment. The Field Transfusion Paramedic Program is a new initiative in Massachusetts, and the Canton Fire Department is the first agency in the state to administer a full blood transfusion in the field. The program involves 25 communities around Canton and is aimed at saving lives by rapidly providing blood to injured patients. According to the Stop the Bleed initiative, bleeding is a leading cause of death after injury. The availability of whole blood in the field can be critical for stabilizing patients and improving their chances of survival. Chief Wendell Robery of the Canton Fire Department emphasized the importance of programs like this: “They allow firefighters to administer whole blood and literally replace what is lost in the field. This allows paramedics to better stabilize patients and get them to a hospital in better condition when seconds literally count.” The successful implementation of the Field Transfusion Assistance Program highlights the dedication of firefighters and healthcare professionals to finding innovative ways to save lives and improve the outcomes of critically injured patients.
A 20-year-old was bleeding profusely after his SUV crashed Friday night in Walpole, Massachusetts. Thanks to the Canton Fire Department’s blood transfusion program, he was able to receive a blood transfusion on the spot before being flown by helicopter to a trauma center in Boston.
The Walpole Fire Department responded shortly before 8 p.m. to a report of an overturned ATV in a heavily wooded area, with a patient trapped and bleeding, Canton Fire officials said. Firefighters extricated the man, treated him and rushed him to a landing pad at a city baseball field, where they determined he needed blood in the field.
Walpole requested assistance from Canton’s Field Transfusion Assistance Program, and Canton firefighters Douglas Connor and Daniel Pendergast arrived at the landing site in an interceptor vehicle within minutes, the fire department said.
A unit of O-negative blood was administered to the patient, which quickly restored his vital signs. He even spoke with medics as he was loaded onto a Boston MedFlight medical helicopter, which flew him to a Boston hospital for further treatment, the fire department said.
According to the Stop the Bleed initiative, bleeding is a leading cause of death after injury. The rapid availability of whole blood is a matter of life and death for many patients.
The Field Transfusion Paramedic Program is new, and the Canton Fire Department became the first agency in Massachusetts to administer a full blood transfusion to a patient in the field on June 29 following a car accident in Braintree. The pilot program, in partnership with Boston Medical Center, involves participation from 25 communities around Canton.
“Programs like this allow firefighters to administer whole blood and literally replace what is lost in the field. This allows paramedics to better stabilize patients and get them to a hospital in better condition when seconds literally count,” Chief Wendell Robery said in a statement.
