Sheriff Gregory Tony. {BSO}
A Message from Sheriff Gregory Tony:
On January 8, 2025, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue responded to an emergency at a home where an elderly woman was found unconscious. Upon arrival, firefighter/paramedics assessed her condition and determined she was suffering from dangerously low blood pressure and shock due to internal bleeding. Recognizing the urgency, the team made a critical, life-saving decision to administer whole blood on-site.
BSO is revolutionizing pre-hospital trauma care with its groundbreaking Whole Blood Program, reinforcing its commitment to providing the highest level of emergency medical services. As the first organization in Florida – and one of few nationwide – to administer whole blood transfusions, BSO is leading the way in this critical intervention.
Whole blood – a complete blood product containing unseparated platelets, packed red blood cells and plasma – has revolutionized trauma care. Previous standard practice was to administer saline to patients suffering from blood loss. While saline can aid in hydration, it lacks the oxygen-carrying red blood cells and clotting factors necessary to stop bleeding. Though saline buys time, it does not address the core issues: hemorrhaging and loss of oxygen to the brain. Whole blood, however, provides both, which significantly improves a trauma patient’s chance of survival. BSO’s Whole Blood Program eliminates dangerous delays in treatment by delivering this essential resource at the scene of an emergency or during transport. Since the program’s launch in early 2020, whole blood has been administered to over 262 patients, resulting in an impressive 81% survival rate.
As the first program of its kind in Florida, the BSO Whole Blood Program serves as a model for organizations nationwide seeking to enhance pre-hospital trauma protocol. Its success underscores the importance of bringing advanced medical interventions directly to the scene of an emergency. The BSO Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services is actively pursuing the expansion of this life-saving technique throughout Broward County, ensuring more critically injured patients have access to immediate care.
The Whole Blood Program is a testament to the power of innovation and BSO’s dedication to enhancing our overall public safety services. By pioneering this initiative, BSO is giving trauma patients a greater chance at survival—providing hope when every second counts.
Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony
Service Equals Reward
Certain Broward cities like Coconut Creek, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, Plantation, Davie, Margate, Miramar, Lauderhill, Lighthouse Point, and Coral Springs maintain their police departments; however, BSO does provide communications and dispatch services to the following cities: Central Broward, Cooper City, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l Airport, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, West Park, Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Tamarac, Weston, and unincorporated West Broward.
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