Whole Blood
Whole Blood:
Texas Leads
The Nation
Texas EMS agencies are pioneering prehospital whole blood programs that are saving lives across the state — and setting the standard for the rest of the country.
The 2025 Texas Legislature Appropriated $10 Million for Texas EMS Agencies to Administer Life-Saving Whole Blood
Whole blood refers to blood in its natural, unprocessed state. The administration of whole blood by EMS agencies to trauma, obstetric, and other patients has led to greater survival rates — especially when rapid control of hemorrhage is critical.
By learning from military medicine and battlefield advances, civilian EMS agencies are increasingly turning to whole blood to improve outcomes for trauma patients in critical, life-threatening situations.
Prehospital Administration
Delivered by EMS in the field — before a patient ever reaches the hospital.
Greater Survival Rates
Whole blood delivers all components — red cells, plasma, and platelets — together for faster hemorrhage control.
Military-Proven
Adapted from battlefield medicine, where whole blood transfusion has been a cornerstone of trauma care for decades.
in Texas Communities
The nation’s first regional prehospital whole blood programs can be found in a large region of Texas anchored by San Antonio. These cooperative programs have created remarkable results and represent one of the most important clinical developments for prehospital care in decades.
First in the Nation
Texas is home to the nation’s first regional prehospital whole blood programs, pioneered in the San Antonio region and now expanding across the state.
Remarkable Patient Outcomes
Cooperative whole blood programs across Texas have produced measurable improvements in trauma survival, demonstrating the life-saving power of prehospital blood delivery.
Setting the National Standard
Texas EMS agencies have led the whole blood innovation at the national level, creating a model that agencies nationwide are working to replicate.
Explore the interactive map of ground EMS agencies conducting blood transfusion programs across the country, developed by the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition.
Watch how Texas EMS agencies are delivering life-saving whole blood to patients across the state, and hear from the professionals making it happen.
Whole Blood: The Texas EMS Story
Learn how Texas EMS agencies pioneered prehospital whole blood programs and the remarkable outcomes they’ve achieved for patients across the state.
Delivering Life-Saving Blood to Texans
See how whole blood is being administered by EMS crews in the field — and how this military-inspired innovation is transforming civilian trauma care.
to More Texans
While Texas EMS agencies have led the whole blood innovation at the national level, reimbursement is rare for this expense. The 2025 Texas Legislature delivered by appropriating $10 million for Texas EMS agencies to deliver whole blood.
STRAC’s Whole Blood Program
Learn more about one of the nation’s first whole blood initiatives.