St. Johns County Fire Rescue’s on-scene blood transfusion saves man who only had 8% chance of survival

St. Johns County Fire and Rescue has significantly improved survival rates by carrying blood to critical accident scenes.

Lt. Sean Brasiel and his team have been providing blood transfusions on scene since March.

Blood drop stickers on the back of the Ford SUV that carries the blood each symbolize a life potentially saved. While not a traditional fire truck, the SUV carries its weight in the liquid life-saving gold.

Many people are surprised that blood can be delivered directly to a scene.

“Like a lot of people, when I tell them we do it, they’re like, ‘You can get blood out there?’” Brasiel said.

One of the blood drop stickers represents a transfusion given to a dying patient from Halifax who had only an 8% chance of survival.

“He walked out of the hospital,” Brasiel said. “That’s b