Air ambulance blood transfusions a "game changer" for Cornwall
Medics say they can now bring the emergency room to the scene
The Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter is carrying blood on board for the first time ever, and it's been described as a "real game changer".
It means the critical care team can start emergency blood transfusions before a patient even reaches the hospital.
Within just three days of the service launching the crew were put to the test when a teenage boy, who had been involved in a crash, needed urgent medical help.
Cornwall Air Ambulance delivers first ever lifesaving blood transfusion to teenager
Paul Maskell, a Trainee Critical Care Paramedic, was there to give 17-year-old Zack a blood transfusion on the side of the road.
The youngster's family says that helped to save his life.
Paul says the new capability means they can essentially bring the emergency department to the scene to help patients.
"It's a real game changer, it will make a massive difference, it enables us to enhance the care we give to the people of Cornwall.
"It's just another element of our ever evolving critical care, so it's again bringing the emergency room, or the emergency department, to the scene, so we're able to start that blood transfusion.
"As we are now carrying blood every day, 365 days a year, we will always have it with us."
Paul Maskell, Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
The service is thanks to a new partnership between medical services in the county.
The blood is transported daily from Royal Cornwall Hospital to the Cornwall Air Ambulance airbase in Newquay thanks to volunteer riders from Cornwall Blood Bikes.
Zack's story
17-year-old Zack Hancock received an emergency transfusion on the roadside following a serious road traffic collision at St Tudy, which left him with life-threatening injuries.
Zack was airlifted to Derriford Hospital on December 4th; he spent the next 11 days in a coma. Despite significant internal injuries, along with broken bones in his face, arms and legs, Zack is back home in Bodmin and recovering well from the incident.
“To see Zack lying on the road with so many people working on him was awful, he was unrecognisable. Police told me to say goodbye to him, they didn’t think he would survive the journey to hospital. Without this service, I would not have a son. The care he received from everyone has been amazing.”
Donna Jewell, Zack’s mum
“Zack sustained multiple injuries, he had lost a lot of blood and was very poorly when we arrived on scene. He was the first person to be able to benefit from this lifesaving intervention on the roadside in Cornwall, it’s amazing to see the difference it can make."
Paul Maskell, Trainee Critical Care Paramedic