If someone gets into a bad car crash or has a serious fall that leads to hemorrhagic bleeding, first responders will typically administer IV fluids to stabilize the patient before transporting them to a hospital. But increasingly, local emergency medical agencies are adopting an emerging alternative: whole blood. Put simply, it’s the blood that flows through our bodies. With all of its components intact – red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma – it quickly helps stop bleeding, replaces blood and delivers oxygen to organs. A growing body of research suggests transfusing it early, on-scene may increase a trauma patient's chance of survival. Traumatic injury is the top cause of death in the U.S. for people between the ages of 1 and 44, and bleeding out is a significant factor, said Lou Laurina, the EMS Division Chief at Summit Fire & EMS in Summit County, Colo. “So, if we're able to replace that whole blood, there's a significant chance to save their life,” he said.