Mountain State Times

The West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services has announced a significant milestone in advancing emergency medical care statewide. Under Governor Jim Justice’s leadership, West Virginia has become the first state to implement comprehensive statewide protocols for administering whole blood on ambulances. This initiative has shown success in saving lives and improving trauma care outcomes.

Gov. Justice highlighted the program's success during his latest administration update.

Since its launch, Cabell County EMS has led the state in providing whole blood transfusions in the field since November 2023, with Harrison County joining the effort in March 2024.

“Thanks to these advancements, one patient has survived a critical situation that might otherwise have been fatal,” said Joseph Ratliff, Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services. “All patients who received whole blood transfusions in the field have successfully reached hospitals where they could receive definitive care, likely preventing fatalities that could have occurred without this prehospital intervention.”

Whole blood transfusions in the field significantly increase trauma patients' survival chances by quickly restoring blood volume and enhancing clotting function. This tool addresses severe bleeding, a leading cause of trauma-related death, by stabilizing patients before hospital arrival.

Despite challenges, the whole blood program represents a crucial advancement in improving trauma patient outcomes. The Department of Health has conducted extensive education and training across EMS regions to ensure paramedics are equipped to manage complex trauma care effectively.

“Our commitment to expanding this life-saving program is unwavering,” said DH Secretary Sherri Young, DO, MBA, FAAFP. “We are actively working to extend the availability of whole blood transfusions to more counties with the goal of achieving statewide coverage.”

The program's success depends on community support through blood donations. West Virginians are encouraged to donate blood via the Red Cross to support these efforts.

To donate blood, visit the Red Cross Blood Donor App or go to RedCrossBlood.org. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Governor Jim Justice’s commitment to enhancing emergency medical services is also reflected in other recent successes within West Virginia's EMS workforce. Since launching the “Answer the Call” initiative, there has been nearly a 75 percent increase in EMS workforce across the state. This initiative provided no-cost education and training for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), invested in test preparation software, and promoted EMS careers statewide.

As a result, new providers increased from 542 in 2021 to 938 by early 2024. Additionally, recent legislative changes will further support recruiting new paramedics and reduce ambulance service wait times by funding new equipment and training.