Bill to allow blood products on medical flights moves to the Senate floor
Residents and law makers are petitioning to allow air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood during flights. This photo shows an emergency airlift taking place along State Rt. 8 in Columbus following a serious accident between a car and tractor trailer. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)
NEW YORK – A petition to allow air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood products has received more than 12,000 signatures, backing from state officials including Senator Fred Akshar, and is making its way to the Senate floor in bill form.
According to Senator Akshar, this community-wide outcry for change has been heard by legislators, and several, himself included, are going to continue pushing for this change.
“As many learned of the near-tragic story of Travis Flanagan, an entire community was moved and joined together to bring about positive change and save lives in the future,” said Akshar on Monday. “Today was an important step forward in this collective goal.”
He said while New York State regulations currently make it extremely difficult for air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood products while transporting patients to an area hospital, on Monday, the state Senate Health Committee voted to advance S.4085, a meaningful overhaul of these burdensome regulations, where the bill will have the opportunity to be considered on the Senate floor.
“I thank both Senator Rivera and Senator Hinchey for recognizing the importance of this public safety issue and I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation as we continue pushing it to the floor for a full vote,” Akshar said.
In multiple social media posts supporting the petition, Akshar described the events that lead to the petition’s creation. The petition, which can be found under, “Allow New York state medical flights to carry and transfuse blood products,” on change.org has 12,160 signatures at the time of writing.
“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.”
He said a Pennsylvania medical flight crew, Guthrie Air, was able to quickly infuse Flanagan with a supply of blood they had on board during the transport. He added that the blood infusion was likely the difference between life and death for Flanagan, and if a New York based medical flight crew had responded he wouldn’t have received it.
“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.”
Those who are interested in following the status of the bill may visit https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s4085 for additional information.
According to Senator Akshar, this community-wide outcry for change has been heard by legislators, and several, himself included, are going to continue pushing for this change.
“As many learned of the near-tragic story of Travis Flanagan, an entire community was moved and joined together to bring about positive change and save lives in the future,” said Akshar on Monday. “Today was an important step forward in this collective goal.”
He said while New York State regulations currently make it extremely difficult for air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood products while transporting patients to an area hospital, on Monday, the state Senate Health Committee voted to advance S.4085, a meaningful overhaul of these burdensome regulations, where the bill will have the opportunity to be considered on the Senate floor.
“I thank both Senator Rivera and Senator Hinchey for recognizing the importance of this public safety issue and I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation as we continue pushing it to the floor for a full vote,” Akshar said.
In multiple social media posts supporting the petition, Akshar described the events that lead to the petition’s creation. The petition, which can be found under, “Allow New York state medical flights to carry and transfuse blood products,” on change.org has 12,160 signatures at the time of writing.
“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.”
He said a Pennsylvania medical flight crew, Guthrie Air, was able to quickly infuse Flanagan with a supply of blood they had on board during the transport. He added that the blood infusion was likely the difference between life and death for Flanagan, and if a New York based medical flight crew had responded he wouldn’t have received it.
“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.”
Those who are interested in following the status of the bill may visit https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s4085 for additional information.
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