Bridgeport Hospital announced on March 20 that it is increasing its investment in its prehospital blood transfusion program by providing upgraded coolers for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies. The $40,000 investment, made possible by the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, aims to improve the storage and monitoring of blood used for transfusions administered directly in ambulances.
The hospital said this step will help ensure that blood remains safe and effective when given to patients before they reach the hospital. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to enhance emergency care and outcomes for critically injured patients.
Edward Snyder, MD, director of the Blood Bank at Bridgeport Hospital, said, “Maintaining the safety and integrity of every unit of blood has always been our top priority. With advances in technology, we’ve upgraded how we store and monitor blood products, strengthening the chain of custody with more precise, real-time temperature tracking for every unit. These updated coolers enhance our ability to see exactly where blood is and confirm it remains within strict clinical standards at all times, even in challenging field conditions. The result is greater efficiency, improved oversight and the confidence that blood is optimally preserved and immediately ready for transfusion when EMS teams reach a patient.”
The program provides EMS teams with one unit of group O-positive red blood cells for use in emergencies outside the hospital. Since its launch ten months ago, paramedics have administered a dozen field transfusions through this initiative.
Doug Latham, MD, EMS medical director for Bridgeport Hospital, said, “Prehospital blood transfusion is one of the most powerful tools we have in emergency medicine today. We’ve already seen it save lives. Patients who might not have survived the trip to the hospital are now getting the critical intervention they need right at the scene. The impact has been immediate and undeniable, and it’s transforming outcomes for our most severely injured patients.”
The program operates in collaboration with local EMS partners including Bridgeport AMR, Trumbull EMS and Stratford EMS. Bridgeport Hospital is part of Yale New Haven Health and serves patients from across the region through its two campuses.
