Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition Publishes Clinical Practice Guideline for Civilian EMS

The Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition recently published a clinical practice guideline (CPG) in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open to support the safe use of blood product transfusion in civilian emergency medical services (EMS) systems.

The CPG outlines the indications, procedures, equipment and monitoring required to safely administer blood products in the prehospital setting. It also highlights considerations for program implementation, including training and education, medical oversight, blood product management and administrative oversight.

Developed as a “living document,” the CPG will be reviewed semi-annually and updated as new evidence emerges. The coalition emphasized that the recommendations are designed to complement local protocols and medical direction, and to help EMS systems strengthen preparedness and patient outcomes. These guidelines are advisory and not subject to independent assessment.

Additional information about the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition is available online.

AABB Standards Support Prehospital Transfusion Safety

AABB released the first edition of Standards for Emergency Prehospital and Scheduled Out-of-Hospital Transfusions in April to enhance the quality and safety of transfusion services provided in both emergency medical services and scheduled out-of-hospital settings. The standards address challenges such as logistics and handling, compliance with FDA storage requirements and processes to ensure safe administration.

Developed with input from EMS providers, donor centers, hospital emergency departments and transfusion services, the standards are designed to strengthen safety across the continuum of care. More information about the standards and accreditation process is available on AABB’s Emergency Prehospital Blood Transfusion web page.