GLENDALE, Wis. — A handful of fire stations within Milwaukee County are now on the cutting edge of care.
Milwaukee County announced Tuesday that it would now be able to deliver whole blood transfusions in the field. Milwaukee County is the first in the state to offer this to patients.
With the traditional standard of care, EMTs and first responders are able to provide patients with IV fluids, such as saline.
Now, a handful of departments have the ability to provide whole blood transfusions in the field. This is typically meant for trauma patients in critical care.
North Shore Fire Department Chief Robert Whitaker said it’s exciting to be a part of this initiative.
“To give them another tool where they can impact the community and safety in the community and life survivability is what we are here for every day,” Whitaker said. “It’s the story of why we do this anyway."
The five departments providing blood transfusions in the field include North Shore, the City of Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Greendale and Wauwatosa Fire Departments.
Wauwatosa Fire Chief Jim Case said this is a big need within his community and across the county.
“In the last month, before the blood came on board yesterday, we had at least a half dozen times in Wauwatosa alone that we could have given blood,” Case said. “The need is there. The frequency is there. It's a great addition to our system."
Chiefs across the county said it is exciting to be on the forefront of care. Milwaukee County is also among the first in the country to be on this cutting-edge type of care.
There will be five ambulances across all five departments that will carry two bags of blood. They have to be stored in temperature-controlled containers and can stay good for 14 days.
If the blood goes unused, it will be donated back to Versiti for distribution to local hospitals.