Fire department seeks endorsement for field blood-product therapy, aims for Q1 2026 start
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Summary
Anchorage Fire Department and medical partners proposed bringing plasma and other blood products into prehospital care to treat hemorrhage, citing trauma-registry data, national adoption and backing from local trauma committees; startup costs estimated around $60,000 and operational support will be required.
Fire Chief Doug Schrage introduced a proposal from the Anchorage Fire Department and medical partners to begin administering blood products in the field in the Anchorage Bowl, with Dr. Michael Levy (chief medical officer, area-wide EMS) leading the clinical case.
Dr. Levy said hemorrhage is a leading preventable cause of death and that prehospital plasma has scientific support as an initial product for field use. He cited trauma-registry data showing a significant portion of trauma patients receive blood products in hospital care and said more than 300 U.S. agencies have adopted some form of prehospital blood-product program. Local trauma committees, the Blood Bank of Alaska and the mayoral EMS advisory board have expressed support.
Operational requirements described include secure, temperature-controlled coolers, blood warmers and infusion pumps, plus stewardship protocols to avoid wasting donated product. The department provided a pro forma startup estimate in the order of $60,000 with ongoing consumable costs for plasma, tubing and related supplies. Schrage and Levy requested the committee's endorsement and indicated they will seek municipal financial support to operationalize the program, with a target launch in the first quarter of 2026.
Committee members did not oppose the presentation; the item closed with an offer to answer further technical or budget questions in follow-up.
