GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich,. (WPBN/WGTU) – – North Flight Aero Med will be the first in the country to use technology they say can save lives.
The technology is a blood warmer meant to provide blood in crucial situations of blood loss or hypothermia.
What makes this device special is that it heats up in seconds and all fits in a small bag.
“I don’t use terms like lifesaving lightly, but I really do think this is lifesaving,” said Dr. Aaron Ziegler, North Flight Aero Med Medical Director
North Flight Aero Med is the first civilian air program in the United States to use this new blood warmer.
The device was FDA-approved last year and it warms the blood out of a cooler to body temperature.
“Without the blood warmer, we’re literally putting frigid liquids into their body, which cools them, has the potential to cool them quickly. So the ability to go from refrigerator temperature to ninety-eight point six within seconds is huge,” said Ziegler.
The entire device fits in a bag.
Ziegler says being able to bring the warmer with them saves lots of precious time when every second matters.
“Literally within minutes of us landing, we can be already transfusing either blood or plasma,” said Ziegler.
Ziegler says the device primarily used to give blood and warm patients — is in service now after training wrapped this week.
“We’re actually taking the care that would be delivered in the ER in Traverse City and bringing it to the side of the road at the patient’s bedside,” said Ziegler.