Ornge air ambulances in Ottawa to have blood on board for emergency transfusions

An Ornge air ambulance in Ottawa. June 25, 2026. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)

Ontario’s air ambulance service, Ornge, is partnering with the Ottawa Hospital and the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association to provide blood products on board for emergency transfusions.

The “Blood on Board” program provides Ornge bases with coolers containing group O-negative red blood packets, which can be deployed when needed.

“Hemorrhage remains the leading cause of death in trauma cases. By reducing the time from injury to transfusion, the program significantly lowers mortality rates and improves patient outcomes,” Ornge said in a news release on Thursday.

The program is also in place in Toronto, London, Timmins and Thunder Bay. To date, more than 400 patients have received blood transfusions through the Blood on Board program, Ornge says.

“By delivering lifesaving blood products directly to patients at the scene or in transport, we are closing the gap between injury and treatment and giving more patients the chance to survive and recover,” said Ornge CEO Dr. Homer Tien.

Ornge notes that 40 per cent of patients in Ontario lack access to a trauma centre within 60 minutes by land, and 15 per cent are not reachable within an hour by air.

“This initiative reflects our shared commitment to equitable, high-quality care across Eastern Ontario, ensuring patients in rural and remote communities have access to the same timely treatment as those in urban centres,” said Ottawa Hospital president and CEO Cameron Love.

Ornge says the program meets rigorous standards and every step, from storage and transport to transfusion protocols and staff training, has been meticulously designed to ensure safety, traceability, and compliance.

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