Guest Column: When seconds count, whole blood saves lives
The Lee Health Trauma Center sees nearly 5,000 patients every year, and every patient that paramedics rush into the trauma center needs immediate attention. Earlier this year, the Lee Health Trauma Center began an initiative that is saving lives – it’s called whole blood. By adding whole blood instead of the standard blood components, like individually transfusing red blood cells, clotting factors, and platelets, it makes the trauma center more efficient when caring for the critically bleeding patient.
Lee Health is the first health system in the Southwest Florida region to implement plans utilizing whole blood for trauma care. Whole blood streamlines the transfusion process, making treatment faster and more efficient, and the blood is from a single donation. These factors are important in a trauma center, where time is critical for the bleeding patient.
As the only state-approved Level II trauma center between Sarasota and Miami, Lee Health treats everyone in a five-county region with highly trained healthcare professionals surrounding a critically bleeding trauma patient and the experts to back up the most niche injury needs. The cutting-edge resources and technology have provided expert emergency care for more than 30 years to the region. The trauma center currently averages around 400 patients each month. That makes the center one of the busiest centers in the state.
What is Whole Blood?
Whole blood is what flows through our veins. It contains red cells, clotting factors, and platelets. It can be transfused into a single patient or separated into its specific components, helping multiple patients from one donation. Whole blood is what you see as it comes out of your veins at the donation centers. It’s also what comes out of a critically bleeding trauma patient.
That very thought you are having now is what makes whole blood the best treatment for a bleeding patient. We don’t bleed individual components like red blood cells, clotting factors, or platelets. It’s all mixed together in the life-sustaining Kool-Aid called blood!
Whole blood was used during World War II to treat battlefield injuries. Over time, the technology to separate components and advances in storage led to the widespread use of single blood components (red cells, plasma, etc.) tailored to the patient’s specific needs.
What are the Benefits of Whole Blood vs. Component Blood?
According to the Mayo Clinic, about 15% to 20% of trauma patients receive transfusions, and 3% receive massive transfusions.
Since whole blood only requires one transfusion, it decreases exposure for critical patients, such as pediatric, transplant and oncology patients.
For patients with severe bleeding, whole blood has been shown to improve survival rates and simplify the transfusion process. Additionally, using whole blood early in the field before patients arrive at the trauma center has also been shown to increase survivability. Since late 2024, Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams have been trained and equipped to administer whole blood transfusions to trauma patients who are hemorrhaging before they are transported to the hospital. This was made possible in partnership with Lee Health.
How Does a Trauma Center Use Whole Blood?
Some of the main reasons a trauma center uses blood products or whole blood are to stabilize the bleeding patient while surgeons work to stop the site of bleeding.
The trauma center at Gulf Coast Medical Center serves only the most complex and life-threatening cases, with more than 90% involving blunt trauma from falls, motor vehicle accidents, and motorcycle crashes.
Treatment administered during the first hour following severe injury can mean the difference between life and death. This includes whether the patient requires blood products like whole blood.
If you’re interested in donating blood, all blood donated to the Lee Health Blood Center helps patients within the health system. For more information, contact the Lee Health Blood Center at 239-343-2333.
To learn more about Lee Health’s trauma services, please visit www.leehealth.org.
Dr. Joseph Lewis is a Lee Health trauma surgeon.