City of Dallas to Expand Life-Saving Blood Equipment Program

Thanks to grant funding from Safer Dallas Better Dallas, the city's fire department is expanding its life-saving blood transfusion program. Here's what that means for the community.

The city announced the expansion and celebrated the anniversary of the pilot program in a Tuesday press conference. Chief Justin Ball said the program will now expand to cover the entire city.

"Almost a year ago, Dallas Fire-Rescue launched a pilot program that would allow paramedics to administer life-saving blood transfusions on the way to the hospital in critical moments after a traumatic injury," Ball said.

"Without the early intervention of the blood transfusion, the chances of survival are slim to none," he said. "The program started with two supervisors carrying special temperature-controlled, military-grade coolers with two pints of blood, 24 hours a day."

Ball said the program helped save 34 peoples lives in the past year. "This includes a mother who was two months post-partum," he said. "She credited the blood program with saving her life and allowing her to continue to be a mother to her baby."

Last month, the program served its first pediatric case. "The children's medical center reached out to us to let us know the blood he received was critical in saving his life," Ball said.

The expansion was made possible by funding from Safer Dallas Better Dallas, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting police and public safety in Dallas.

"We have enough coolers and equipment to cover the entire city," Ball said. "That means an equal response to everywhere in this city. This undoubtedly will help us save more lives. With the support, you are helping us reach our goal of making Dallas Fire-Rescue one of the best departments in the U.S."