AUSTIN, Texas — Austin-Travis County EMS has implemented a new plan to quickly deploy blood to the scene of large-scale emergencies, officials announced.
The Mass Casualty Incident Whole Blood Deployment Plan establishes a coordinated system between ATCEMS and We Are Blood to deliver blood transfusions to critically injured patients in the field.
When a mass casualty incident occurs, ATCEMS notifies We Are Blood with details including the nature of the incident, estimated need and expected arrival time. We Are Blood staff then assess available inventory, prepare units and stage them for pickup by designated ATCEMS personnel. On scene, a dedicated “Blood Officer” manages distribution and tracks all blood products.
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“This plan is about getting the right care to the right patient at the right time, even under the most challenging circumstances,” ATCEMS Chief Robert Luckritz said.
The two organizations began joint planning in fall 2025, conducting the first of several full-scale training exercises in November 2025 before implementing the plan.
The new protocol expands on ATCEMS’s Whole Blood Program, launched in 2021.
Officials noted that blood availability during a mass casualty incident depends on real-time supply, meaning the community needs to continue to donate.
“If the unimaginable happens, this plan ensures we’re ready,” Luckritz said.