City of Fort Lauderdale Approves Whole Blood Program

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioners have approved a major advancement in emergency medical care: the launch of a Whole Blood Exchange Program in partnership with Broward Health. The program is a priority for the City Commission and advances the City's Public Safety initiative. Commissioners voted on a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes Broward Health as the partner responsible for restocking whole blood used during qualifying emergency transports. This program comes at no direct cost to taxpayers. Startup equipment and supplies were secured through Florida Department of Health EMS grant funding, while ongoing blood replacement is covered through the hospital partnership.

This program will allow Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (FLFR) paramedics to administer whole blood to critically injured trauma patients before they reach the hospital.

"Administration of whole blood in the field prior to the patient being received by the trauma team increases survivability more than 70%," said Fort Lauderdale Fire Chief Stephen Gollan.

Early transfusion has been linked to improved outcomes, reduced complications and higher survival rates for patients experiencing hemorrhagic shock. With this initiative, Fort Lauderdale has become one of the few municipalities in Florida - and among a growing number nationally - to equip its paramedics with the ability to provide hospital-level blood resuscitation in real time.

One person who is excited to see this program help others is 20-year-old Stephen Livingson. He survived a violent rollover crash on March 27, when the car he was in struck a pole along W. Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue firefighters and paramedics extricated Stephen from his vehicle, stabilized him on scene, and rushed him to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition. Crews used rapid extrication techniques and provided advanced lifesaving care, including a whole blood transfusion in the field. Thanks to the quick work by first responders, he arrived at the trauma center with an improved mental status and a fighting chance of survival.

"I'm very happy that this program is coming to Fort Lauderdale because it's going to save a lot more people like me," said Livingston. "It means the world because when it happened, I was sitting there just asking God why he put me through this. And I finally understood one night that it was to help other people in my situation."