Mecklenburg Emergency Services has launched a new prehospital whole blood program, giving specially trained EMS providers the ability to administer whole blood to patients with life-threatening blood loss before they reach a hospital. If the blood is not used in the field, it will be returned to Inova Blood Donor Services so it can be placed back into the hospital blood supply and used for other patients. As part of its partnership with Inova Blood Donor Services, Mecklenburg Emergency Services also plans to host annual community blood drives to help replenish the regional blood supply and encourage residents to donate.