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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2026
Contact: media@dhs.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles Health Services and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center expand nation-leading Prehospital Blood Transfusion Program, LA-DROP
One-year milestone highlights life-saving care delivered before hospital arrival
Los Angeles, CA - April 24, 2026 One year after launching California’s first coordinated prehospital blood transfusion program, Los Angeles County’s LA-DROP initiative continues to transform trauma care—delivering life-saving blood to patients before they reach the hospital and intervening at one of the most critical moments in care.
Centered on both patient outcomes and responsible blood stewardship, LA-DROP maximizes the use of every donated unit. Through close collaboration with clinical and blood bank partners, the program ensures blood is used for patient care whenever possible, while minimizing waste of this vital and limited resource.
Building on its success in Los Angeles County, the model has expanded statewide through CAL-DROP, with programs now managing more than 1,000 units of blood and serving over 2 million Californians.
Since its launch, the LA-DROP partners and participating Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies below have administered over 60 prehospital blood transfusions within the program’s current pilot coverage area in Los Angeles County—serving an estimated 500,000 residents and representing the highest volume in the state.
As additional EMS units are equipped and new programs are launched, the initiative is expected to expand and reach more communities across the county.
- Compton Fire Department
- Harbor UCLA-Medical Center
- Los Angeles County EMS Agency
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- Los Angeles Health Services
- San Diego Blood Bank
The program has safely managed more than 350 units of blood with a discard rate of less than 1%, demonstrating exceptional stewardship of this critical resource while strengthening the regional blood supply.
Uncontrolled bleeding remains a leading cause of preventable death, with many deaths occurring before hospital arrival. LA-DROP enables earlier, targeted resuscitation by delivering blood at the scene—an approach adapted from military medicine and long established in trauma centers such as Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
“Time is the difference between life and death,” said Dr. Kelsey Wilhelm, Director of EMS and Disaster Preparedness in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. “This program allows paramedics to begin life-saving transfusions in the field, immediately following traumatic injuries such as vehicle collisions—giving patients a real chance to survive when minutes matter most.”
Donate Blood. Save Lives.
To date, more than 400 donations have supported this effort. Sustaining and expanding the program depends on a strong and reliable donor base. To learn more or schedule a donation through LA-DROP’s regional blood bank partner, visit the San Diego Blood Bank website.
To learn more about LA-DROP and how to support this life-saving initiative, visit the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center website.
About Los Angeles Health Services:
LA Health Services is LA County’s integrated healthcare system and the second-largest public health system in the nation. Our system includes four public hospitals, more than 20 community health centers, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Correctional Health Services, and community-based programs that connect people to care where they are.
We serve as the safety net for more than 10 million residents, providing care regardless of ability to pay, insurance coverage, or immigration status. As one connected system, we deliver extraordinary care—from prevention and primary care to emergency, specialty, trauma, and recovery services across Los Angeles County.
Media contact: media@dhs.lacounty.gov
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