DOVER, Del. — Months after Kent County paramedics began carrying whole blood for emergency use, Delaware State Police’s aviation unit has followed suit, making it available in every medic agency across the state.
Kent County administered its first unit on Nov. 24, while New Castle and Sussex counties have been providing it since May 2023, Delaware Online reported.
Delaware State Police announced that their two new helicopters are now equipped with blood warmers for transfusions. To mark the milestone, troopers donated blood at the Blood Bank of Delmarva on Feb. 14.
On the ground, paramedic supervisors transport blood in medical-grade biothermal coolers designed to maintain proper temperatures, which they can monitor remotely via a mobile app. At an emergency scene, an IV is administered — if one hasn’t already been set up — and the blood is warmed as it is infused into the patient. The same process applies in the air.
While pre-hospital blood transfusions are uncommon nationwide, research continues to highlight their benefits. Limited use is largely due to logistical challenges, cost and storage constraints, as blood for Delaware paramedics is viable for up to 21 days.
According to the National Association of State EMS Officials, fewer than 10% of EMS agencies nationwide carry whole blood, despite trauma being the leading cause of death for Americans under 45, with over 150,000 fatalities annually, per the CDC and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.
