American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics in Pueblo will now carry whole blood on select ambulance units, marking a new development in pre-hospital trauma care for the region. This move allows paramedics to perform lifesaving transfusions for patients experiencing severe blood loss before they arrive at the hospital.
The program is the result of a partnership between AMR and UCHealth, with financial support from community donors in southern Colorado. AMR becomes the first emergency medical service agency in Pueblo to implement such a pre-hospital whole blood program.
“This initiative is on the cutting edge of trauma and EMS care and will most definitely save lives when time is critical,” said Mike Lening, AMR operations manager. “We are grateful for the collaboration and support of the entire team at AMR, UCHealth and our community donors, whose contributions made this program a reality.”
Historically, EMS crews have used intravenous fluids to stabilize patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock until hospital arrival. The introduction of whole blood transfusions represents a significant change in how trauma cases are managed outside hospitals.
“Hemorrhagic shock, or bleeding to death, is the leading cause of death for people under the age of 45,” said Dr. Thomas Herzog, a trauma surgeon at UCHealth Parkview in Pueblo. “Up to 40% of these deaths could be preventable with immediate transfusion. By bringing blood to the scene, we are giving patients a much better chance at survival.”
Implementing this service requires specialized equipment such as coolers and warming devices as well as thorough training for staff. The initial year of operation is funded by more than $55,000 from the UCHealth Parkview Foundation.
“UCHealth’s mission is to improve lives, and this program is a powerful example of that commitment,” said Darrin Smith, president of UCHealth Parkview. “We are deeply grateful to the UCHealth Parkview Foundation who made this lifesaving work possible.”
Whole blood contains red cells, plasma, and platelets—a combination first used during World War I—and has been recognized as an effective treatment for traumatic bleeding that can be safely administered regardless of blood type. Its use by EMS agencies has grown across the United States.
AMR plans to deploy this equipment initially on one supervisory vehicle with potential expansion depending on results and demand.
