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Published by Kirby Winn on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 in Blog

In observance of National First Responders Day, ImpactLife recognizes the Heroes For Life who support our region’s blood supply as well as the emergency medical services (EMS) teams who carry the lifesaving power of blood directly to the scene of a 911 call.

Heroes For Life graphicObserved annually on October 28, National First Responders Day was officially designated by the U.S. Congress in 2017 to honor the firefighters, police officers, 911 dispatchers, and emergency medical personnel who step in to help when crisis strikes. ImpactLife is at the forefront of a growing area of emergency medicine, pre-hospital transfusion.

From ground ambulances to medical helicopters, pre-hospital transfusion programs are changing the standard of emergency care before patients even reach the hospital. By integrating whole blood and red blood cell components directly onto ground ambulances and medical helicopters, pre-hospital transfusion programs bridge the critical gap between the scene of a 911 call and hospital arrival. When severe hemorrhaging occurs from motor vehicle crashes, agricultural accidents, or medical emergencies, having blood on board means life-saving transfusions can begin within minutes rather than hours later.

Portage Fire Rescue
Representatives from ImpactLife joined Portage Fire Rescue (Wisconsin) to celebrate the launch of the department's pre-hospital transfusion program in Sept. 2026. (See news coverage from WKOW-TV.)

Today, ImpactLife proudly partners with 29 emergency medical service (EMS) providers representing ground and air ambulance teams based in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin that are now equipped to administer blood products on the scene of a 911 call or while en route to the emergency room. By integrating transfusion of blood components on ground and air ambulances, these pre-hospital teams are bridging the critical window between trauma or medical bleeding and hospital arrival, drastically improving survival rates for patients experiencing severe hemorrhage.

In observance of National First Responders Day, ImpactLife recognizes the Heroes For Life who support our region’s blood supply as well as the emergency medical services (EMS) teams who carry the lifesaving power of blood directly to the scene of trauma or medical bleeding.

ImpactLife has added six EMS bases so far in 2026, and has provided more than 1000 units of blood to EMS teams year-to-date. The blood center now supports pre-hospital transfusion programs for 29 EMS teams in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

ImpactLife: Blood Provider to the following Emergency Medical Services

The integration of pre-hospital transfusion programs has been shown to decrease mortality rates and shorten hospital stays for trauma patients. ImpactLife's support for these programs underscores its role in enhancing the quality of emergency medical services and highlights the organization's dedication to innovation in transfusion medicine.

Pre-hospital transfusion programs require a seamless logistical chain linking volunteer blood donors, laboratory testing, specialized storage and transport, and the split-second decision-making of emergency medical services teams in the field. ImpactLife urges community members to recognize the dedication of local first responders by considering how they can support the pipeline that keeps emergency vehicles stocked. Every unit of blood carried by an ambulance starts with a volunteer donor.

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About The Author

Kirby Winn

Kirby Winn serves as Manager, Public Relations for ImpactLife. He enjoys working with media across the blood center's service region to share the stories of patients who have been helped by the generous volunteers who support our mission.

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