In recent hours, all five regional air rescue bases managed by AREU, including the one in Brescia, have been equipped with plasma and red blood cells on board to ensure a timely intervention in case of hemorrhagic shock, one of the leading causes of preventable mortality in major trauma cases. The announcement was made at Palazzo Lombardia by the Welfare Councillor, Guido Bertolaso, alongside the General Director of AREU, Massimo Lombardo, and the anesthesiologist Francesco Daminelli. This project, called ‘Blood on Board,’ marks a significant advancement in integrated and timely assistance within the region.
Each air rescue helicopter is now outfitted with insulated containers to maintain blood products at controlled temperatures and active heating systems to facilitate transfusions. Bertolaso emphasized that this initiative positions Lombardy as a national model in ensuring early blood transfusions at the emergency site. With these innovations, the aim is to enhance the response to critical situations involving severe trauma with massive hemorrhages, thereby optimizing the time required for transfer to hospital facilities.
