UCHealth, based in Aurora, Colo., has launched one of the first whole blood programs in the state.
Whole blood contains all blood components, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma, according to UCHealth. Only about 1% of emergency medical vehicles in the U.S. carry blood, as most EMS services use crystalloid products, such as intravenous fluids.
Crystalloid products are cheaper and easier to store but are less effective than whole blood. A 2022 study published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons found a 60% improvement in survival rates when patients received prehospital whole blood.
UCHealth EMS is collaborating with Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services to stock whole blood. Together, the organizations serve more than 550,000 people in northern Colorado.
Earlier this year, UCHealth partnered with the Colorado Springs Fire Department to provide prehospital whole blood. In the program's first 100 days, more than 30 lives were saved, according to the system.