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Operation Pulse Lift - Emergency Blood Transport
Operation Pulse Lift
Emergency Blood Transports
Civil Air Patrol provides a 24/7 - 365 day a year "Life-Saving" - Emergency Blood, Organ, and Tissue transport capability in every state of the nation, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. These transports are done at no cost to the requesting agency, the receiving facility, or the patient/their family. This no-cost humanitarian response is provided through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), Tyndall AFB. The number above should be dialed providing the following information to the officer taking the call.
- Requesting agency, primary contact name, and phone number.
- Destination facility, contact name, and phone number.
- Description of items requiring transport (blood, organ, tissue, etc).
- Type and quantity of boxes with dimensions and weight.
- Desired pickup location.
- Time available for pickup.
- Destination location and who will be picking up the items (with phone contacts).
- Will escort of items (accompanying medical personnel) be needing transport also. More information will be required on them, their name, position, phone number, weight, etc)
- Any special instructions.
Baring weather, or other unplanned delays, CAP supported Emergency Transports can typically be launched within two hours from the initial call and travel up to 500 miles in one trip without refueling. Coordination should include the agency delivering the blood to the CAP aircraft, at the airport chosen for pick-up, and also at the drop off location. CAP ground transport can also assist with this if requested.
Again, while CAP provides support to this mission (and you can request CAP by name for this support), the AFRCC will decide the fastest and most reliable means for the critical transport (to include use of available active military, National Guard, or Coast Guard resources). Typically our transport limitations are only weather, as a result, we can provide both ground an air transport support to your requests. We can also use multiple aircraft and/or crews in a "Pony-Express" tactic - extending the range of the mission. If you have any questions regarding this capability you can contact pulselift@capnhq.gov or (480) 298-2603, however in Emergencies alway contact the above number in the red button.
