Paramedics get behind Lifeblood's Emergency Services Blood Drive

Ambulance Victoria paramedics, first responders, volunteers and staff are rolling up their sleeves for a vital cause, donating blood, plasma and platelets as part of this year’s Red Cross Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive.

Blood, plasma and platelets are required to treat a number of conditions, including cancer and blood diseases, heart surgery and for pregnant women, and is also used by paramedics to treat patients in certain life-threatening emergencies, such as road incidents and other major trauma cases.

36-year-old father of three, Raymond Yarmouth, knows the importance of donating blood all too well after he lost control of his motorbike and fell onto the handlebars last October, while camping with his children and friends.

Despite being in pain, he managed to ride back to camp, but later collapsed, prompting his friends to call Triple Zero (000).

Ambulance Victoria Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics arrived to find Raymond showing signs of internal bleeding, with a swollen abdomen, high heart rate and low blood pressure.

A specialised Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter crew was dispatched to the scene. Each of Ambulance Victoria’s air ambulance helicopters carry packed red blood cells, which are administered to some of the most critically injured or unwell patients who often wouldn’t survive to hospital otherwise.

MICA Flight Paramedic Eleisha Albert completed an on-scene ultrasound and blood gas analysis on Raymond to confirm the severity of his condition and support the decision to administer 560ml of red cell concentrate to stabilise him.

The hospital-level expertise of Ambulance Victoria paramedics and access to life-saving blood products, meant Eleisha stopped Raymond from deteriorating as he was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital.

“Administering blood can be life-prolonging and allows us to give our patients the best chance of survival and opportunity for further care,” Eleisha said.

“I feel honoured to be equipped with the training and resources to deliver such a high level of care to patients in Victoria who really need it. It’s incredible to witness critically unwell people improve once blood is administered.

“Blood products are challenging to store, carry and administer in the pre-hospital environment, and Ambulance Victoria has worked exceptionally hard to be able to bring this hospital-level treatment to people in need.”

Eleisha said the blood drive is a good reminder to first responders to donate.

“We know how important blood, plasma and platelet supplies are, so the Emergency Services Blood Drive is a great opportunity for each of us to roll up our sleeves and save lives in a different way,” she said.

MICA Flight Paramedic Educator and Chairperson of Ambulance Victoria’s Blood Management Committee Andrew Allan said the ability to administer blood is a fantastic capability.

“Ambulance Victoria has carried blood on board certain ambulance aircraft and vehicles since 2011,” he said.

“Administering blood in the pre-hospital environment carries significant responsibility to appropriately select and administer blood to the right patients. It’s fundamentally a human tissue transplant and is a high-level skill our MICA paramedics are equipped with.

“Paramedics who administer blood to patients are all aware that blood is freely given by donors and we treat our supplies with the utmost care and respect.”

Raymond has since returned home and is recovering well. He said he is extremely grateful for the care he received from Ambulance Victoria paramedics and hopes his story encourages more people to donate blood, acknowledging that donors played a vital role in his survival.

The Red Cross Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive runs from 1 May until 31 July and encourages donations from regular and new donors who work in emergency services, to show what can be achieved together.

You can register to donate at www.lifeblood.com.au and can nominate Ambulance Victoria as your team.

To find a donor centre near you visit www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre.

The drive was officially launched at Red Cross Lifeblood’s Melbourne Donor Centre on Friday 1 May, with Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, Emergency Management Vic, VIC SES, CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, St John's Ambulance and Australian Red Cross taking part alongside Ambulance Victoria.