Indianapolis EMS Conducts 50th On-Scene Blood Transfusion

Source: IEMS

INDIANAPOLIS—Paramedics on Indianapolis EMS’ (IEMS) special operations team recently conducted their 50th on-scene blood transfusion since prehospital blood was introduced into the 9-1-1 dispatch system. IEMS is the first 9-1-1 ground ambulance service in the state to reach this remarkable milestone, which highlights the expanded capabilities of EMS providers as well as the importance of having the necessary resources available when they are needed most. 

IEMS’ blood medic program began in 2022 as a partnership with Eskenazi Health Transfusion Services to provide blood products to specially trained paramedics capable of transfusing blood on-scene, increasing survival chances by shortening the time between point of injury and blood transfusion by approximately 50% compared to if the patients waited until hospital arrival to receive needed blood. At the time of its creation, the program was the first of its kind in the state of Indiana and performed the first successful transfusion in 2024. In June of 2025, the program was incorporated into Marion County’s 9-1-1 dispatch system, and since then the IEMS special operations team has conducted 50 on-scene transfusions with 40 of those patients ultimately being successfully discharged, or expected to discharge, from the hospital. 

 “The successes achieved by the prehospital blood program further highlight the importance of having the necessary supplies and the properly trained personnel to deploy them,” said Patrick Sarette, M.D., MPH, NRP, special operations medical director of IEMS. “We are especially grateful for our hospital partners who have ensured that our team is adequately equipped with the resources necessary to bring lifesaving care beyond the walls of the trauma center and into the community.”

Since being added to the 9-1-1 dispatch system, IEMS’ blood medic protocol has expanded to be used for injuries caused by nonpenetrating wounds and internal bleeding, further increasing the chances of survival for even more patients in need. These successful outcomes only increase the importance of having blood available through donations from the public, and IEMS encourages people to regularly donate at local blood banks and blood drives. IEMS encourages residents to visit https://www.aabb.org/for-donors-patients/give-blood or https://www.versiti.org/donor to find their closest blood donation site.

To learn more about IEMS, visit www.IndianapolisEMS.org.