CHRISTIANSBURG – Christiansburg EMS can now offer whole blood transfusions and services to patients, thanks to a partnership with a non-profit community blood center.
Currently there are no EMS providers in Southwest Virginia offering whole blood services, meaning a patient often must wait until they arrive at the healthcare facility before receiving blood services. That will now change for those within the Christiansburg EMS treatment area.
The non-profit partner, The Blood Connection (TBC), is planning mobile blood drives throughout the area to help with supply for the Christiansburg EMS program. With this opportunity, blood donors can feel confident knowing their donations are helping our community and neighbors. Christiansburg Deputy Rescue Chief Dustin Williams says the new partnership will undoubtedly help save lives.
“Christiansburg Rescue is proud to partner with The Blood Connection on this program,” said Williams. “This partnership allows us to be the first EMS agency in the area to offer lifesaving whole blood to the community we serve. This program allows us to improve trauma care and reduce mortality.”
“We are honored to partner with Christiansburg Rescue to provide these lifesaving blood products to local patients,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of TBC. “Local blood donors make the difference in sustaining the community blood supply and preventing blood shortages. We will immediately begin efforts to collect blood products in the community and are seeking blood donors and organizations who are willing to support this partnership and the local blood supply by sponsoring blood drives.”
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion while only three percent of the eligible population donates. 4.5 million Americans will be impacted by a blood donation every year. TBC works with many other EMS agencies across the region to ensure that the lifesaving blood products they need are available and ready for accident victims, traumas, and other emergencies. Volunteer blood donors will make all this possible for Christiansburg Rescue.
Although TBC is responsible for keeping the blood supply stable, it cannot replicate blood; it must be donated. TBC urges the community to donate blood to ensure that hospitals’ needs are uninterrupted. TBC also encourages and welcomes local schools, businesses, churches, and organizations, to be part of the connection as a blood drive host. To learn more about hosting a blood drive, please visit //thebloodconnection.org/host.
