Thousands sign local petition for change, state official backs movement
(Photo by Zachary Meseck)
CHENANGO COUNTY – After a tragic accident in Greene, a movement to allow blood products to be used on state medical flights has garnered more than 11,000 petition signatures and backing from New York State officials.
New York State Senator Fred Akshar is one of the individuals who supports the change, and he said while legislators work to get changes signed into law, they hope the public will continue signing the petition.
“As many know, local nurse and farmer Travis Flanagan was involved in a tragic farm accident on March 13th,” said Senator Akshar. “Travis was pulled into an active machine and lost both of his legs from the knee down.”
“Thanks to the heroic efforts of several individuals and first responders, Travis survived.”
Akshar said emergency medical providers were called to the scene and a Pennsylvania medical flight crew, Guthrie Air was able to quickly infuse Travis with a supply of blood they had on board during transport. He said this very well may have been the difference between life and death.
“But New York State regulations currently make it extremely difficult for air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood products while transporting a patient to an area hospital,” said Akshar. “If a local New York-based flight crew had responded to the scene, it’s horrifying for his young family to think what that would have meant for Travis’ prognosis.”
Travis Flanagan’s brother, Trevor Flanagan, was the one who started the movement about a week ago on change.org.
Trevor said his brother received two units of blood at the scene by Guthrie Air, and that even medical directors have expressed frustration with the practice of not providing blood.
“There were many factors that led to his survival, including him receiving two units of blood on scene by Guthrie Air, a Pennsylvania based flight crew,” said Trevor. “To the surprise of many of us, we learned New York based medical flight crews, such as LifeNet, who received the initial call, but was unavailable, are not permitted to carry and transfuse their own blood products.”
“This is shocking because in many instances these crews are responding to the scenes of traumatic accidents in which blood products may be the difference between life and death.”
Trevor said five medical directors for LifeNet NY have expressed their frustration via an Air Methods post on July 2, 2020. He said LifeNet serves 48 states with New York being the only state unable to carry and transfuse their own blood.
After about a week of creating a post on change.org and reaching out to public officials, the petition to allow state medical flights to carry and transfuse blood products has reached more than 11,100 petitions in support for the change.
Travis Flanagan also spoke on the issue, and said emergency medical responders should have everything they need to save someone’s life.
“This change needs to happen,” said Travis. “I fortunately had all the stars aligned that day but others may not be as lucky as me.”
“There is no reason why NYS Medical Flight Crews shouldn’t have the ability to carry and transfuse blood. These crews are dispatched in the most dire circumstances and should have all the tools to save a life/lives.”
Those who are interested in viewing the petition may visit change.org and search “Allow New York state medical flights to carry and transfuse blood products“ for more information.
New York State Senator Fred Akshar is one of the individuals who supports the change, and he said while legislators work to get changes signed into law, they hope the public will continue signing the petition.
“As many know, local nurse and farmer Travis Flanagan was involved in a tragic farm accident on March 13th,” said Senator Akshar. “Travis was pulled into an active machine and lost both of his legs from the knee down.”
“Thanks to the heroic efforts of several individuals and first responders, Travis survived.”
Akshar said emergency medical providers were called to the scene and a Pennsylvania medical flight crew, Guthrie Air was able to quickly infuse Travis with a supply of blood they had on board during transport. He said this very well may have been the difference between life and death.
“But New York State regulations currently make it extremely difficult for air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood products while transporting a patient to an area hospital,” said Akshar. “If a local New York-based flight crew had responded to the scene, it’s horrifying for his young family to think what that would have meant for Travis’ prognosis.”
Travis Flanagan’s brother, Trevor Flanagan, was the one who started the movement about a week ago on change.org.
Trevor said his brother received two units of blood at the scene by Guthrie Air, and that even medical directors have expressed frustration with the practice of not providing blood.
“There were many factors that led to his survival, including him receiving two units of blood on scene by Guthrie Air, a Pennsylvania based flight crew,” said Trevor. “To the surprise of many of us, we learned New York based medical flight crews, such as LifeNet, who received the initial call, but was unavailable, are not permitted to carry and transfuse their own blood products.”
“This is shocking because in many instances these crews are responding to the scenes of traumatic accidents in which blood products may be the difference between life and death.”
Trevor said five medical directors for LifeNet NY have expressed their frustration via an Air Methods post on July 2, 2020. He said LifeNet serves 48 states with New York being the only state unable to carry and transfuse their own blood.
After about a week of creating a post on change.org and reaching out to public officials, the petition to allow state medical flights to carry and transfuse blood products has reached more than 11,100 petitions in support for the change.
Travis Flanagan also spoke on the issue, and said emergency medical responders should have everything they need to save someone’s life.
“This change needs to happen,” said Travis. “I fortunately had all the stars aligned that day but others may not be as lucky as me.”
“There is no reason why NYS Medical Flight Crews shouldn’t have the ability to carry and transfuse blood. These crews are dispatched in the most dire circumstances and should have all the tools to save a life/lives.”
Those who are interested in viewing the petition may visit change.org and search “Allow New York state medical flights to carry and transfuse blood products“ for more information.
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