HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The global day of giving, Giving Tuesday, has arrived, and Huntsville Hospital Foundation (HHF) is starting a campaign to raise funds for life-saving medical equipment.
On Tuesday, HHF announced that Bentley Buick GMC is matching the first $20,000 donated to the 2024 fundraiser, which aims to equip HEMSI with high-tech blood warmers and infusers. These devices are critical for revolutionizing pre-hospital trauma care in Madison County.
“Bentley Buick GMC’s partnership truly amplifies what HHF is able to provide for our not-for-profit hospitals and community,” said HHF Communications Director Katie Coppens. “Thanks to their generosity, donations can go twice as far to help HEMSI save lives through an innovative approach to pre-hospital care: giving blood transfusions before critical trauma patients even arrive at our Huntsville Hospital Level I Trauma Center.”
HEMSI and Huntsville Hospital have become among the first in the nation to carry whole blood in ambulances. Thanks to this unique collaboration, the hospital blood bank is providing HEMSI with blood that is nearing the end of its shelf life — blood that would otherwise go to waste. This blood is now available for critical cases, averaging one per week.
However, access to the blood is only part of the challenge. It must be stored, transported, and then warmed and transfused quickly. With HEMSI’s current equipment, it can take up to 19 minutes to warm the blood and administer it to a trauma patient in need. With new blood warmers and infusers, that time can be reduced to just three minutes. This 16-minute difference could mean the difference between life and death.
HHF’s focus this Giving Tuesday is to raise $67,779 to supply these lifesaving, innovative resources that will “buy them” those 16 minutes. 100-percent of donations made today will purchase the upgraded blood warmers, rapid infusers and transport coolers.
Visit here to support the fundraiser through an online gift. Donations can also be made over the phone by calling (256) 265-8077, or in person by check at the Foundation office: 801 Clinton Avenue East, Huntsville, AL 35801.
