Driving the Future of Whole Blood Management for EMS

Whole blood administration is rapidly emerging as a critical advancement in EMS care. When seconds count, being able to transfuse whole blood before hospital arrival can dramatically improve survival rates for patients suffering severe trauma.

But with this lifesaving capability comes the challenge of managing it effectively. From donation to transfusion to safe return of unused units, every step must be precise and well-coordinated. The Whole Blood Summit, hosted by Burnsville Fire in partnership with First Due, brought together blood centers, EMS agencies, hospitals, and technology providers to address this challenge and shape the future of whole blood management.
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What Whole Blood Is and Why It Matters

Whole blood is blood that has not been separated into components like red cells, platelets, and plasma. In trauma situations, giving whole blood early in the field provides patients with all the necessary elements their body needs to transport oxygen and stop bleeding.

Historically, transfusions in pre-hospital care involved separate blood products, which can be time-consuming and less effective. Recent studies and field experiences, particularly from military medicine, have shown that whole blood transfusions delivered in the field significantly improve outcomes.
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Closing the Visibility Gap in Whole Blood Operations

Deploying whole blood requires more than simply storing it on EMS units. It involves:

• Coordinating with blood centers to obtain and store units safely

• Managing refrigeration and monitoring chain of custody

• Administering transfusions in the field

• Tracking patient outcomes

• Ensuring unused units are returned promptly to avoid waste

The Whole Blood Summit was the first event of its kind in Minnesota to gather all stakeholders in one room to map out this lifecycle. Dr. Andrew Stevens, Medical Director for Burnsville Fire and First Due, explained the importance:

“For the first time, everyone involved in deploying and managing whole blood could see how their work connects. This collaboration helps reduce waste, improves transfusion speed and safety, and ultimately saves more lives.”

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First Due’s Role: A Full Suite of Support for First Responders

As one participant noted during the summit:

“It’s a really positive thing that First Due isn’t just a patient care record company. They’re looking at a full suite of support for first responders.”

First Due is developing an integrated Whole Blood Management Module designed to:

• Track every unit of whole blood from donation to transfusion and return

• Provide real-time operational visibility for EMS agencies and medical directors

• Automate administrative tasks, reducing manual workload

• Connect agencies, hospitals, and blood banks for seamless data sharing

This approach goes beyond documentation. It equips EMS agencies with the tools to truly manage whole blood as a resource, supporting better patient outcomes and regional collaboration.
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The Road Ahead

Whole blood administration is still new for many EMS agencies, with fewer than 300 departments nationwide currently using it on ground units. The Whole Blood Summit marked an important step in establishing best practices, fostering collaboration, and developing technology that makes this lifesaving capability more accessible.

First Due remains committed to helping agencies manage the entire spectrum of EMS operations, ensuring that innovations like whole blood can be deployed effectively and sustainably.
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How You Can Help

None of this is possible without strong, well-supported blood centers. Donating blood is one of the most direct ways to help first responders and hospitals save lives.

Visit Memorial Blood Centers to schedule a donation and support the chain of care that makes early whole blood transfusions possible.