The ProMed transport bag is being used to transport blood products by HEMS first responders in Europe and globally. Being able to give a pre-hospital transfusion at the scene of an incident can sometimes be a lifesaving intervention.

One of the latest air ambulance charities using ProMed bags is Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) in the UK. They are joining a growing number of UK ambulance services using the product, including the Great North Air Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance Charity and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Scott McIlwaine, Operations Manager at EHAAT, said: “The decision to start carrying blood products onboard our helicopters was a major one for the charity, one which has significantly improved the care that can be delivered to patients.

“It was important for us to make sure that our critical care teams had the right equipment. That includes containers to ensure the blood is stored, transported and the correct temperature is maintained in the field for periods of up to 24 hours. After comprehensive research we selected Peli BioThermal Crēdo ProMed transport bags, and they have never let us down.”

Dr Anne Weaver, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-hospital Care with London’s Air Ambulance, added: “When we arrive at the scene of a serious incident, we often find a patient losing a significant amount of blood. In these cases, every second counts and, as the first UK air ambulance to carry blood onboard, we see the vital importance of being able to deliver transfusions on scene, pre-hospital, any time of the day or night.”