Improving patient outcomes by transfusing donated whole blood during transports 

Snyder, TX, July 8, 2024 – The industry-leading trauma clinicians with the Native Air emergency air medical base in Snyder are proud to announce they now carry and can administer whole blood onboard every transport. Having whole blood aboard their helicopter allows them to provide additional life-saving care when every minute counts.  

“When transfusion is required for patients with a traumatic injury involving hemorrhage, whole blood is the gold standard,” said Jason Guynes, flight paramedic with Native Air. “Positive outcomes are greater when the patient receives all of the blood components, including clotting factors, at the same time rather than in their separate parts.”      

Receiving blood during pre-hospital care is critical for patients suffering from trauma or hemorrhagic shock. It is particularly valuable in rural areas where there may be limited access to donated blood. Since Native Air carries its own blood supply, its clinicians can administer it in-flight while preserving hospital stock. The crews previously carried packed red blood cells and plasma. Now they carry whole blood which contains red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma in one unit, providing additional clotting factors that aren’t present in packed red blood cells and plasma alone. Whole blood can also be administered more quickly since all of the components are present in one bag. Additionally, using universal, low-titer type O whole blood is not only safe in both children and adults, but it also eliminates the time needed to test patients for blood type when every minute counts in an emergency.  

“Carrying whole blood on board means the people in the communities we serve have access to an even better lifesaving intervention than we had before,” said Stephanie Estep, account executive with Air Methods, the leading air medical service provider in the nation and the parent company of Native Air. “We are grateful to be able to carry this valuable resource and are even more grateful to those who donate it.”       

All Native Air clinicians have at least three years of experience in an emergency or intensive care setting before joining a flight crew. They are trained and equipped to provide the highest level of pre-hospital care to cardiac, stroke, pediatric, high-risk obstetric, and other patients with a wide variety of critical care needs. They receive ongoing advanced training, and every nurse and paramedic has access to Air Methods Ascend, an in-person and online training program that allows clinicians to perform at the top of their licensure. Air Methods Ascend is available to medical personnel across the country. 

Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities it serves and is in-network with most major health insurance providers across the country for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability while making pre-paid air medical membership unnecessary.