Blood Program Expands Beyond Chesterfield County
TL;DR: A whole blood program launched in Chesterfield County in 2023 is expanding to Hanover, Dinwiddie, Buckingham, and Goochland counties, allowing first responders to administer life-saving transfusions at injury scenes before patients reach trauma centers.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Virginia State Police, Inova Blood Donor Services
- What: Whole blood program expanding to four neighboring counties
- When: Program launched July 2023; expansion announced July 2026
- Where: Chesterfield, Hanover, Dinwiddie, Buckingham, and Goochland counties in Central Virginia
The story
A whole blood program that launched in Chesterfield County in July 2023 is expanding across Central Virginia, bringing a life-saving intervention to four neighboring counties. The program, a partnership between Chesterfield Fire and EMS and Virginia State Police Med-Flight, allows paramedics and firefighters to administer O-positive whole blood to trauma patients at injury scenes before transport to trauma centers.
Blood units are stored in hospital-grade coolers at the Virginia State Police aviation hangar in Chesterfield and distributed on a rotation schedule. Initially carried only by Medflight helicopters, the program expanded to ground units stationed at strategic locations, including Station 16 in western Chesterfield where transport times to hospitals are longest. Medics receive specialized training on patient identification and safe administration.
Since its launch, the program has administered over 100 blood units. According to program leadership, whole blood can reduce mortality in profoundly hypotensive trauma patients by 50 percent. One documented case involved a hiker on the Appalachian Trail whose condition stabilized after field blood administration within 18 hours.
The expansion brings the program to Goochland, Hanover, Buckingham, and Dinwiddie counties through Virginia Office of EMS Region 6, with Mecklenburg County also joining the regional partnership. Goochland County joined in September and has already deployed the program nine times. Fresh blood supplies arrive every two weeks at the aviation hangar, and unused units are returned to Inova for redistribution.
In recognition of its impact, the program earned a 2025 National Association of Counties Award for innovation in prehospital care. Officials in the expanding counties have embraced the initiative. Deputy Chief Mike Watkins of Goochland Fire-Rescue called it "a game-changer for these trauma patients." Captain Caleb Wilson of Hanover County Fire and EMS noted that placement decisions are based on data analysis to meet areas with longer transport times to hospitals, particularly in rural regions where hospital access can take tens of minutes.
Key players
- Chesterfield Fire and EMS: Program operator and partner
- Virginia State Police Med-Flight: Program operator; maintains blood storage at aviation hangar
- Inova Blood Donor Services: Supplies O-positive whole blood units
- Nick Ronesi: Chesterfield firefighter and flight paramedic; program advocate
- Mike Watkins: Deputy Chief, Goochland Fire-Rescue
- Caleb Wilson: Captain, Hanover County Fire and EMS
- Dr. Allen Yee: Operational medical director
Key dates
- 2023-07: Whole blood program launched in Chesterfield County
- 2024-09: Goochland County joined program
- 2025: Program received National Association of Counties Award
- 2026-07: Expansion to Hanover, Dinwiddie, Buckingham announced
Why it matters: The expansion brings immediate blood transfusion capability to rural areas of Central Virginia where hospital access is limited, potentially reducing mortality in severe trauma cases during critical transport times. The program's early success and regional adoption reflect growing medical confidence in prehospital whole blood administration as a standard trauma intervention.
Places
- Chesterfield County
- Hanover County
- Dinwiddie County
- Buckingham County
- Goochland County
- Appalachian Trail
- Virginia State Police Aviation Hangar
- Station 16
Development timeline
- 2023-07Whole blood program launches in Chesterfield County: Partnership between Chesterfield Fire and EMS and Virginia State Police Med-Flight begins providing O-positive whole blood to trauma patients in the field [source]
- 2024-01Program expands to ground units: Whole blood begins arriving in ground transport units, with Station 16 positioned strategically for areas with longest transport times [source]
- 2024-09Goochland County joins program: Goochland Fire-Rescue begins participating in whole blood program through Virginia Office of EMS Region 6 [source]
- 2025National Association of Counties Award: Program recognized with award for innovation in prehospital care [source]
- 2026-07Regional expansion announced: Program extends to Hanover, Dinwiddie, Buckingham, and Mecklenburg counties [source]
Related links
Read the original at WTVR CBS 6 Local →
Sources
- Game-changing whole blood program expands to 4 more Central Virginia counties
- Whole Blood Program Brings Innovation and New Standard of Care to Chesterfield
- A gamechanger: Whole blood program expanding to several areas