LaPorte County EMS is partnering with the American Red Cross to launch a prehospital transfusion program on June 1, 2026. This initiative will help ensure lifesaving blood is available when and where it’s needed – before a patient ever reaches the hospital.

Under the program, the Red Cross is supplying LaPorte County EMS with blood products. These products are ideal for treating severe bleeding and have the potential to improve survival - particularly within the first 24 hours for patients requiring massive transfusion.

Severe bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death trauma in the United States. Research shows that early administration of blood products has been shown to prevent uncontrolled bleeding and increase trauma survival rates.

To prepare for this advanced capability, LaPorte County EMS paramedics completed regulatory training to implement this program.

The program is part of a growing national trend. In 2024, the Red Cross—both directly and through hospital partners—supplied lifesaving blood products to more than 130 air ambulance providers, as well as to ground EMS agencies in cities such as Washington, D.C.; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; and Wake Forest, North Carolina. In Indiana, the Red Cross has also established similar partnerships in both Central and Northeast Indiana.

Blood is a perishable resource that only comes from generous donors. Giving blood is quick and easy, and with an hour of time, you can help ensure lifesaving blood is available when and where needed.

A blood donation appointment takes about one hour. The donation itself is only 8-10 minutes.

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross Indiana Region:
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its five chapters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at Redcross.org/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @indianaredcross. LinkedIn: American Red Cross of Indiana.