Schaefer Consulting

05/13/2026

On Monday, I got a call from a colleague in Spain worried the SWiFT Trail would stall/kill efforts to get LTOWB into their system.
This will be an important discussion on interpreting and translating the study into different operating environments.

The SWiFT (Study of Whole Blood in Frontline Trauma) Trial Journal Club: Results, Interpretation, and Practice Implications

On May 22nd at 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT, THOR and Vitalant will host a journal club–style webinar examining the recently published SWiFT (Study of Whole Blood in Frontline Trauma) trial and its implications for trauma care and transfusion practice.

A member and leading author of the SWiFT trial will be joined by expert panelists from THOR and Vitalant for a focused discussion of the study’s design, key findings, strengths and limitations, and clinical interpretation.

The session will also explore what the SWiFT data may—and may not—suggest regarding real-world implementation of whole blood in prehospital and in-hospital settings. Attendees will gain balanced insight into both the scientific evidence and the operational considerations surrounding a widely discussed trial in trauma transfusion.

Register here: be7f0697-60be-4d97-9cdc-abdad09678f4@7ab6fe4f-5392-4205-93a9-e4ef38a09662" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/be7f0697-60be-4d97-9cdc-abdad09678f4@7ab6fe4f-5392-4205-93a9-e4ef38a09662


AABB
American Red Cross
North American Rescue
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition

05/08/2026

Keeping this article on file to see how well it ages.
Maybe he is right- but if he is wrong, it’s a deadly mistake.
I urge Somerset County to begin tracking Missed Opportunities. Don’t forget to include the fatalities that bled to death before arriving at a hospital (Trauma, Non-Trauma, Medical). NHTSA will be happy to provide highway fatality data for the region.
The Baltimore Sun

A grant-funded plan to put whole blood on Somerset County ambulances has run into local resistance, with county officials warning it could become another state-backed program that leaves local taxpayers holding the bag when the grant runs out.

Emergency medicine leaders say the county should not pass it up. Whole blood can replace severe blood loss in trauma patients before they reach a hospital — a potentially lifesaving tool in rural areas far from trauma centers. State officials say grant funding would cover the program for at least five years.

Ronnie Hinman, president of the Somerset County Firefighters Association, urged commissioners not to adopt it at an April 28 County Commissioners meeting, citing long-term funding concerns.

“Every time I turn around, there’s new programs proposed that’s going to be implemented in this county that’s going to cost this county lots of money because Anne Arundel County does it — like whole blood,” he said. “Nobody else on the Shore is doing it, so we need to stay away from it, too.

📸: Josh Davis, The Baltimore Sun

05/07/2026

Great deal for local agencies who can’t attend all of EMSWorld Austin/FAST 26.

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗲𝘃𝘆 𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺: 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 💥 EMS's sharpest clinicians. One stage. Four hours. Zero filler. The hottest topics in prehospital care—debated, dissected, and challenged like never before because in emergency medicine... the margin for error is razor thin.

• May 27 | 1–5 PM | Austin, TX
• Earn 4 CE hours!!
• $150 per attendee | no conference ticket required
🎟️ Purchase tickets today → https://hmp-global.swoogo.com/EMSL26/begin?reg_type_id=1186499
👉 Full agenda & speaker lineup → https://www.handtevy.com/science-innovation-symposium-2026/

05/07/2026

Happy Nurses Week!

05/07/2026

Proud Sponsor of Davenport Project Graduation.
This provides graduating high school seniors with fun activity on Graduation Night. 🎓👨‍🎓👨‍🎓

Thank you for your Sponsorship!!! Let’s go 2026🎓

04/28/2026

Time flies.
They are still setting the standard for hospital and rural EMS collaboration!
It’s been, dare I say- fun, working with my friends in North Carolina!
“No Notice” FDA inspection after Christina Sprinkle Warren and I did a podcast on a hospital providing blood to EMS? ✅
Passed with flying colors? ✅

On Thursday, April 28, 2022 Wilkes County EMS reached a new milestone in it's history. As of 11:00 today our service began carrying blood for administration directly on the scene of emergencies.

This treatment is truly a game changer for individuals experiencing severe blood loss in Wilkes County. When blood is administered to a patient suffering severe blood loss, not only is the lost fluid volume replaced, but vital oxygen carrying capacity is restored as well. This in turn will help buy these types of victims valuable time go get to much needed specialized care at area hospitals.

This program would not be possible without the support and close collaboration with Atrium Health's Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Wilkes County EMS would like to thank them as well as our progressive Medical Direction staff for their support and guidance to make this program possible.

04/24/2026

Thank you to NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison for meeting with the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition to help increase awareness about prehospital blood programs!
Another round of SS4A grant funds is available. Deadline to apply is May 25th.

04/20/2026

🙌
Great job by Cody Shetler and the team at Sugarcreek Fire and Rescue.

Sharing data helps us continually refine the process.
Their trauma and medical usage split is pretty typical for agencies like this.

1 year anniversary of being able to provide prehospital blood to our community. This partnership was made possible because of the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio, and the support of Sugarcreek Village Council.

04/19/2026

Advocacy happens at all levels.
While much attention has been focused on the Federal level for the reimbursement of blood products, State Legislatures and local communities also play an integral role in implementing and sustaining prehospital blood programs.

Learn how you can make a difference in your community.

***1st step: get out of your Medical silos and start talking to ALL Stakeholders!***

National Conference of State Legislatures
NHTSA
U.S. Department of Transportation

Jonathan Morrison, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of prehospital blood programs that allow emergency responders to administer blood at the scene to trauma victims. He’s joined by a former military trauma nurse wi...

04/18/2026

As of April 2026, approximately 370 9-1-1 Ground EMS agencies carry blood. This is incredible growth from 4 agencies in 2016.

I need your help keeping the map up to date!

The Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition Interactive Map of 9-1-1 Ground EMS agencies has been updated!
Here is the link: https://prehospitaltransfusion.org/blood-program-interactive-map/

We are experiencing a good problem: the rapid growth of programs across the country makes it a bit more challenging to track. If you see an agency missing, or one that needs an update, please submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAr64gHx_4PrFU96o22c9ue5DxHdn1AFvPDmOsSMJBRi78pA/viewform

As we engage Federal, National, and State leaders, we want to share accurate, up-to-date information. Thank you!!

HEMS- thank you for your submissions! We will eventually get them added. We are trying to keep up with the ground agencies and hope to get enough time to start tracking HEMS by base location.