October 14, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO — Leading experts in trauma and critical care surgery will convene at a news conference on Monday, October 21, to discuss the lifesaving potential of making prehospital whole blood — blood administered before arriving at a hospital — widely available on ambulances across the United States.
Uncontrolled bleeding from trauma is a leading cause of preventable death for people of all ages, and quick access to blood remains a critical factor in saving lives. The topic of “whole blood,” which refers to blood that has not been separated into its component parts, such as plasma or platelets, has made national headlines over the past year for its potential role in saving lives before a bleeding patient arrives at the hospital. However, there are some barriers that make achieving this goal challenging, including the fact that very few EMS agencies carry any blood component, let alone whole blood, in their ambulances.
These experts will discuss the benefits and barriers at the national and local levels, progress made to date, solutions to the problem of access, and success stories that demonstrate the value of prehospital whole blood. They will also provide rural, EMS, and military perspectives.
Remarks will be delivered during a news conference at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco, California. The event will be livestreamed on the ACS Media Center.
This event presents an opportunity for journalists to connect with leaders in the field.
WHAT: A live news conference featuring a panel of experts at the forefront of the push to make blood available to patients before they arrive at the hospital.
WHEN: Monday, October 21, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. PT
WHERE
This news conference will include remarks from each expert, followed by a Q&A for reporters. Questions can be submitted virtually or asked in person.
Expert Panelists
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.