Omaha Fire Department crews responded to a shooting where scene safety delayed access to the patient by approximately four minutes. When paramedics were finally able to reach the 41-year-old, she was alert and oriented but markedly lethargic, with an obvious gunshot wound to the chest and inability to move her legs. Only a single entrance wound was present and significant blood loss was visible on the patient’s chest and clothing.
The patient exhibited classic indicators of Class 3 hemorrhagic shock:
- BP: 82/40
- HR: 120
- Shock index: 1.46
- Respirations: Labored at 20/min
- Skin: Normal color but declining responsiveness
- Mentation: Lethargic, intermittent eye opening
Crews established an 18-gauge IV in the left AC, recognizing that the patient’s rising shock index and penetrating trauma required immediate whole blood administration.
With one unit of whole blood available on the responding unit, crews deployed LifeFlow and the QinFlow Warrior to initiate rapid, warmed resuscitation.
A 500 mL unit of whole blood was infused with LifeFlow. Within seconds of beginning the transfusion, crews observed a dramatic physiologic response.
Post-LifeFlow vitals demonstrated significant improvement:
- BP: Increased to 138/90
- HR: Decreased to 110
- Shock index: Improved to 0.8
Perhaps most notably, the patient’s mentation improved almost instantly. She opened her eyes, regained the ability to speak in full sentences, and became more engaged with EMS.
The on-scene time to transfer of care at Nebraska Medical Center was 13 minutes. Upon arrival, the patient received two additional units of blood in the ED and was ultimately discharged home.
Omaha Fire Department personnel reported that LifeFlow was exceptionally easy to set up and operate, even amid the urgency of a high-acuity trauma call. Crews described the device as intuitive and noted that the entire setup process went smoothly, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than equipment challenges. They also observed a clear clinical advantage in being able to deliver whole blood much faster than with traditional methods such as pressure bags or gravity infusion. According to the team, this rapid administration played a meaningful role in the patient’s immediate stabilization and reinforced their confidence in LifeFlow as a frontline tool during critical resuscitations.
Summary
This case illustrates the profound impact of rapid whole blood resuscitation during the most time-sensitive phase of hemorrhagic shock. For this patient, LifeFlow allowed EMS to deliver a full unit of warmed whole blood quickly, resulting in hemodynamic and neurologic improvement. The swift intervention contributed to patient stabilization before hospital arrival and supported a positive outcome after a life-threatening injury.