When a patient has life-threatening bleeding after suffering an injury, a blood transfusion can be life-saving. Since 2016, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has provided more than 300 patients with pre-hospital blood components transfusion. We are now participating in research to improve the care of these critically injured patients.

DSAA is collaborating with colleagues from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), nine other air ambulances and many of the UK’s major trauma centres to trial the clinical and cost effectiveness of pre-hospital whole blood transfusion. The trial is called the Study of Whole Blood in Frontline Trauma, or SWiFT for short and it is overseen by NHSBT. It will assess whether giving whole blood to patients with life-threatening bleeding improves their chances of survival compared to receiving plasma and red blood cells.

At DSAA we are committed to enhancing and saving lives and we strive to continuously improve the care we provide. We are incredibly excited and proud to be part of the SWiFT trial as it will help us to improve the care we provide in Dorset, Somerset and much further beyond. We are very grateful to our colleagues at Dorset County Hospital and the Devon Freewheelers who have all helped to make this possible.