Flight Paramedics Can Safely Administer Blood Products to Trauma Patients: Decreasing the Time to Blood Administration Improves Patient Outcomes

Background and Objectives Early administration of blood products to trauma patients in the prehospital setting is associated with improved outcomes. Paramedics are vital components of many flight teams but do not receive education on blood administration in their education track. The literature indicates that it is feasible for paramedics to administer blood. It has not been determined how much education paramedics would need to increase knowledge and skill enough to safely and accurately administer blood products. This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to assess whether paramedics could gain the necessary knowledge and skill to administer blood to trauma patients safely. Methods A local flight team participated in this QI project as part of their initiative to add blood onto their aircraft. Paramedics and nurses from this program were assessed via survey for knowledge surrounding blood administration. An education intervention was then implemented, and the participants were then assessed again via survey. Lastly, a sample of paramedics was placed in simulation and compared to a paramedic sample who had not received the education. Results were then analyzed using parametric and nonparametric statistical testing. Outcomes included confidence intervals, standard deviations, and averages of the changes in scores. Results Test scores did improve on average (average all = 21.83; standard deviation all = 18.97; 95% CI: 17.27, 26.38). The average test score change was similar for nurses (average nurse = 19.80; standard deviation nurse = 20.65; 95% CI: 12.09, 27.51) and paramedics (average paramedic = 23.38; standard deviation paramedic = 17.68; 95% CI: 17.65, 29.12). In simulation, 50% of paramedics who received the intervention were able to simulate blood administration correctly; 10% of the paramedics who did not received the intervention completed the simulation correctly. Conclusions This QI project demonstrated a correlation in improved survey average scores and education intervention. Simulation results demonstrate an increase in the frequency of correct blood administration. Education improved paramedics' knowledge and ability to safely administer blood. Educating paramedics to administer blood products may improve patient access to early blood product administration, which may improve patient outcomes.