Lifesaving blood now carried on Fort Worth ambulances
Press conference unveils groundbreaking EMS program transforming trauma care in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — For the first time, Fort Worth ambulances are equipped to give blood transfusions to trauma patients before they reach the hospital—a milestone in emergency care that experts say will save lives.
A press conference on Tuesday morning will introduce the region’s newest EMS blood program, a collaborative initiative between MedStar Mobile Healthcare, Fort Worth Fire Department, JPS Health Network and Carter BloodCare. The launch marks a major advancement for the Fort Worth area, which until now has lagged behind other Texas cities like San Antonio and Austin in prehospital transfusion access.
WHY IT MATTERS
Every year, an estimated 31,000 Americans die from blood loss after injury—many before they ever reach an operating room. Experts call it a public health crisis. This program aims to change that by delivering the most critical intervention—blood—where it’s needed most: at the scene and en route to a hospital or ER.
With the integration of MedStar into the City of Fort Worth system, the program now covers:
- 456 square miles of emergency response
- More than one-million residents
- 15 cities
- An estimated 18 blood transfusions per month
“Seconds matter in trauma,” said Dr. Jeff Jarvis, Chief Medical Officer of MedStar. “This program gives our paramedics the power to save lives in the field—not just stabilize until transport.”
PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS
📍 Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex
505 W Felix St. Fort Worth, TX 76115
📅 Tuesday, April 22, 2025
🕣 8:30 a.m.
Visuals + Interviews:
- Fort Worth city leaders will roll up their sleeves and donate blood on camera.
- Doctors and leaders from MedStar, JPS, Carter BloodCare and Fort Worth Fire Department will speak and be available for interviews.
- Ambulances stocked with blood and EMS equipment will be on-site for filming and photos.
Media are invited to attend, ask questions, and film throughout the event.
This press conference coincides with the lead-up to National EMS Week (May 18–24, 2025) and represents a pivotal moment for trauma care in North Texas.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Carter BloodCare supplies the lifesaving blood used in this program. As a nonprofit blood center serving more than 200 medical facilities across North, Central and East Texas, Carter BloodCare works hand-in-hand with EMS agencies to improve patient outcomes, particularly in high-trauma and rural areas.
EMS crews in Fort Worth will carry group O red cells—critical for emergency transfusions—and any unused blood is safely reallocated to JPS Health Network, ensuring no waste.
“This is what it looks like when a community comes together to close the gap between injury and survival,” said Veronica Moore, Chief Administrative Officer at Carter BloodCare.
