Establishing a Prehospital Blood Transfusion Program

In the second installment of the EMS Focus: Prehospital Blood Transfusion in Practice webinar series, Gam Wijetunge, Director of the Office of EMS, led a panel discussion with experts on the first steps needed to start a prehospital blood transfusion program.

During the discussion, speakers explored the foundations of a successful prehospital blood transfusion program and highlighted the critical role these programs play in advancing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's mission to save lives on U.S. roadways. Panelists also discussed the history of prehospital blood transfusion from military to civilian use, as well as the first steps in data collection and stakeholder management needed to establish a prehospital blood program.

Panelists

• Randi Schaefer, DNP, RN, ACNS-BS, Army Lt. Col. (ret.), Schaefer Consulting

• John Holcomb, MD, Army Col. (Ret.), Professor, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Herrsink School of Medicine, University of Alabama Medical Center