Friday blood drive highlights pre-hospital transfusion with AirCare (helicopter EMS)

Published by Kirby Winn on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in News Releases

ImpactLife will hold a blood drive with AirCare this Friday that will highlight the importance of blood transfusions in emergency care. The blood drive is open to the public and takes place on Friday, May 22 from 9 a.m. to noon on the ImpactLife bloodmobile, which will be parked near the AirCare hangar at Dubuque Regional Airport, 11016 Airport Road. Friday's blood drive is especially helpful and important in the lead-up to Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial kickoff of summer, a time of year that many in the field of emergency medicine refer to as "trauma season." It also comes during national EMS Week, May 17-23.

During the blood drive, donors will have the opportunity to see the AirCare helicopter* and learn about emergency transport and specialty ambulance services provided by UI Health Care. To book an appointment to give blood, call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401 or schedule online.

The event will highlight the importance of blood transfusions used in emergency care. AirCare helicopters are equipped for pre-hospital transfusion, a growing practice at the intersection of emergency medical service and transfusion medicine. When EMS teams arrive on scene for a bleeding patient, seconds count. And when a needed blood transfusion can be delivered immediately – on the scene or while en route to the hospital – the time saved can mean the difference between life and death.

“Bleeding from uncontrolled hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable death among trauma patients,” said Dr. Daniela Hermelin, Chief Medical Officer for ImpactLife. “Every minute counts in these situations. A pre-hospital transfusion — the delivery of blood products by trained first responders before a patient reaches the hospital — can significantly improve survival, reduce hospital length of stay, and decrease overall blood use once patients arrive at the emergency department.” ImpactLife provides blood components used by 25 air and ground ambulance services in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

“We know that prehospital transfusions have the power to save lives, and donors make it possible to have blood available for use in emergency transport,” said Andrew Nugent, MD, MHA, FACEP, chair and departmental executive officer for the Department of Emergency Medicine at UI Health Care. “Maintaining a stable blood supply is crucial and we can’t do that without the generous support of our communities. By donating to blood drives like the ones hosted by ImpactLife, you are helping your family, your neighbors, and possibly even yourself by making sure that AirCare has access to blood products in emergency transports.”

AirCare provides emergency helicopter and specialty ambulance services to rapidly transport multi-system trauma victims, neonates, pediatric patients, and patients experiencing time-sensitive or complex medical conditions. All flights are operated by Air Methods.

About ImpactLife

ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to more than 130 hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

About University of Iowa Health Care

University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa’s only comprehensive academic health system, leads the way in improving health care by providing the most advanced care for patients in Iowa, educating the next generation of physicians, and making new biomedical research discoveries. The nearly 20,000 faculty and staff who are part of UI Health Care share a commitment to care for all Iowans, with a mission of changing medicine and changing lives.

Additional University of Iowa Health Care clinics in the Quad Cities include cancer, dermatology, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric specialty care, and more. Visit uihc.org/quad-cities to learn more.

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*NOTE: The helicopter will not be available for tours if there is an emergency call for service during the blood drive.

CONTACT:

KIRBY WINN
Manager, Public Relations
kwinn@impactlife.org
mobile 563-349-1571