Spartanburg County emergency vehicles now carry blood

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg EMS is now equipped with a new life-saving tool that allows trauma patients to receive a blood transfusion on the way to the emergency room.

Officials said Spartanburg EMS is the third of its kind in the Upstate to have quick response vehicles (QRVs) that carry blood.

“It’s super huge. It could be the meaning of life and death for you or your loved one,” explained said EMS Crew Chief Greyson Garver. “It could be anywhere in the county if they need blood then if they can’t get to hospital fast enough we can bring it to them.”

Previously, first responders were only able to give trauma patients saline and fluids. They said now that patients can receive blood, they should be entering the hospital in a more stable condition.

“Patients that are having life-threatening bleeds will ultimately make it to the hospital if we can provide them with enough blood to make it there,” said Dr. Joseph Milanoi. “Essentially what we are trying to do is get them to the hospital alive so a surgeon can fix what’s bleeding.”

They said QRV’s visit Spartanburg Medical Center daily to get their blood supply. The blood can stay in the regulated coolers for up to twenty-four hours.

Before treating any patients, they said the blood is put through a warming device that heats it to about 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit in thirty seconds. They said this ensures patients do not lose any more body heat than they already have.

If the blood is not used, it is returned to the hospital and put back into circulation.

Milano said to provide this service, they are in need of the universal blood, a less common type of blood, O negative.

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