A new clinical trial started on December 15 2022, seeing air ambulance crews carry 'whole blood' instead of separate red blood cells and plasma for the treatment of severely injured patients at risk of bleeding to death.

The SWIFT trial is led by NHS Blood and Transplant and involves 10 air ambulance charities across the country in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Air Ambulances UK.

If the trial shows patient benefit, it could reduce trauma deaths in civilian accidents and also on the battlefield, and in any situation where delaying a transfusion by seconds or minutes could be critical.

Air ambulances have carried red blood cells since 2012. However during the SWIFT trial they will also carry 'whole blood'. This is blood as it taken from the arm of a donor. It includes all the different blood components together, such as red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Previous studies, including on military casualties in Afghanistan, have indicated whole blood could have better outcomes for trauma patients, including a greater chance of survival.

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