SALISBURY, Md. — The City of Salisbury is announcing the upcoming launch of a new Prehospital Whole Blood Program through the Salisbury Fire Department, which will allow specially trained paramedics to administer low-titer O positive whole blood to critically injured patients before they ever reach a hospital.
The program is designed to deliver low-titer O positive whole blood to patients who are experiencing severe blood loss caused by traumatic injuries, medical emergencies, or other life-threatening conditions. Getting blood into a patient earlier — whether at the scene of an emergency or during transport — allows paramedics to start replacing lost blood sooner, which can significantly improve outcomes for those going into hemorrhagic shock.
Whole blood has become the go-to standard in many trauma care systems because it combines red blood cells, plasma, and platelets into a single product. That combination helps restore the body’s ability to deliver oxygen and clot blood during critical emergencies.
Setting up the program required close coordination between the fire department, its medical director, regional health care partners, and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) to make sure all clinical protocols, storage procedures, tracking systems, and quality assurance standards were properly in place.
EMS Lt. John Dennis of the Salisbury Fire Department spoke to the significance of the new program. “The implementation of our Whole Blood Program represents a major advancement in emergency medical care for the citizens and visitors of Salisbury,” he said. “By bringing blood transfusion capabilities directly to the patient, our paramedics can begin a life-saving treatment, giving critically ill and injured patients a greater chance of survival. This program reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of prehospital care possible.”
The new program is expected to strengthen the fire department’s capacity to deliver advanced emergency medical services to people throughout Salisbury and the surrounding region.
