The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) received $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to bring blood transfusion capabilities and emergency physicians to the scenes of severe crashes.
The award comes through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which Congress created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support local, regional and Tribal efforts to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. This fiscal year, the Department of Transportation announced 297 awards totaling $1.013 billion, including 95 projects focused on post-crash care.
Combined with $600,000 in local funding from Trinity Health Of New England, the award supports the $3 million Prehospital Urgent Life Support and Expertise (PULSE) pilot program, which will equip Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles with blood and transfusion equipment and create a rapid-response team of emergency physicians for high-severity crashes.
Richard Donovan, deputy director of NVCOG, said: “When a serious crash happens, the minutes immediately afterward can determine whether someone lives or not. This investment will give our emergency responders additional lifesaving tools at the scene. With the partnership of Trinity Health Of New England, we are building a regional system focused not only on preventing crashes, but also on giving people the best possible care and chances of surviving them.”
PULSE advances NVCOG’s NVision Zero strategy, which seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the region’s roads by 2060. NVCOG became the first council of governments in Connecticut to adopt a Vision Zero commitment.
“As a leading healthcare provider in the community, we see firsthand the devastating impact motor vehicle crashes can have on individuals, families and communities,” said Robert Roose, MD, MPH, president of acute care at Trinity Health Of New England, “Our support for this project reflects our commitment to improving safety beyond our hospital walls and partnering in efforts that help prevent serious injuries and save lives.”
The partnership brings transportation planners, healthcare professionals and emergency responders together to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
Wesley Kyle, MD, EMS medical director at Saint Mary’s Hospital, said: “This initiative demonstrates what is possible when organizations come together around a shared purpose. By combining the expertise of prehospital resuscitation and the commitment of NVCOG and its member communities, we are building a strong foundation to reducing preventable deaths and saving lives.”
The transfusion equipment will also be used for other traumatic emergencies.
