ON World Blood Donor Day (14th June), we’re celebrating the incredible impact of blood donation – and the people who make our life-saving work possible.
At Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT), administering blood transfusions at the scene of a serious incident is a critical part of the care we deliver. Since 2019, our teams have carried blood products on board both our helicopters and Rapid Response Vehicles, giving patients the best chance of survival before they even reach hospital.
https://ehaat.org/blog/world-blood-donor-day-2025/embed/#?secret=pslTm1J4LZ#?secret=q5hMLOCIsZ
Blood on Board – Why It Matters
When someone suffers a major trauma and is bleeding heavily, time is everything. Blood loss reduces the body’s ability to deliver oxygen and to form clots, which are essential for stopping further bleeding. That’s where our teams step in.
By giving a transfusion at the scene, our pre-hospital care doctors and critical care paramedics can immediately replace lost blood volume, improve oxygen delivery, and promote clotting.
Each of our aircraft and vehicles carries:
2 units of O negative red blood cells, which can be used on any patient
2 units of thawed fresh frozen plasma, the other major component of human blood
4 units of dried plasma (Lyoplas), ready to be reconstituted and given if more is needed
This combination forms a powerful, potentially life-saving treatment for patients suffering traumatic bleeding. To date this year (Jan-May 2025), we’ve delivered 23 blood product transfusions at the scene of incidents.
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