Harnett County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is proud to announce the launch of its Prehospital Whole Blood Program, becoming only the 17th agency in North Carolina¹ to offer this life-saving intervention in the field.

The initiative aims to improve survival rates for patients experiencing severe blood loss by administering whole blood before hospital arrival. This initiative will officially launch in May 2025, aligning with National Trauma Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about injury prevention and trauma care. 

Program Overview

The Prehospital Whole Blood Transfusion Program equips Harnett County EMS supervisors and paramedics with low-titer type O-positive whole blood, which contains red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and clotting factors. This comprehensive blood product has been shown to significantly enhance patient outcomes when administered promptly.

Harnett County paramedics are trained to assess patients and administer whole blood transfusions in accordance with protocols established by Harnett County EMS Medical Direction. 

Key Benefits

• Improved Survival Rates: Prehospital Whole Blood has been shown to decrease in-hospital mortality from 29% to 7%.²
• Reduced Mortality from Hemorrhagic Shock: With an 11% increase in mortality increase for each minute delay in blood administration², it is imperative that these patients receive the most appropriate treatment as early as possible.
  
• Enhanced Trauma Care: Providing whole blood in the prehospital setting has shown more effective resuscitation than traditional fluid methods, stabilizing patients before hospital transport.

Implementation and Training

The program will officially begin on May 16, 2025. Paramedics will undergo comprehensive training, including hands-on simulations, clinical assessments, and familiarization with the equipment and protocols to ensure the safe and effective administration of whole blood.

Community Impact

Harnett County EMS remains committed to advancing prehospital care and improving patient outcomes. This launch of this program reflects our dedication to providing the highest standard of emergency medical services to our community.

About Harnett County EMS

Harnett County EMS is a leading provider of emergency medical services in Harnett County serving 146,000 residents. Our mission is to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to those in need, utilizing the latest advancements in medical technology and training.

Contact Information

Harnett County Emergency Medical Services
1005 Edwards Brothers Drive, Lillington, NC 27546
 910-893-7563
 https://www.harnett.org/emergencyserv/ 

For media inquiries, please contact Alex Belanovich at 910-893-7563 or abelanovich@harnett.org

1. Zalkin, J. (2025). North Carolina PreHospital Regional Blood Coalition. www.NCEMSRBC.org. https://www.ncemsrbc.org/
2. Duchesne, Juan MD; McLafferty, Bryant J. BS; Broome, Jacob M. MD; Caputo, Sydney BS; Ritondale, Joseph P. BS; Tatum, Danielle PhD; Taghavi, Sharven MD, MPH; Jackson-Weaver, Olan PhD; Tran, Sherman MS; McGrew, Patrick MD; Harrell, Kevin N. MD; Smith, Alison MD, PhD; Nichols, Emily MD; Dransfield, Thomas NRP; Marino, Megan MD; Piehl, Mark MD, MPH. Every minute matters: Improving outcomes for penetrating trauma through prehospital advanced resuscitative care. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 97(5):p 710-715, November 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000004363