iHeartRadio Interview Shares about Trauma Awareness Month

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May 22, 2017 | Kimberly Schmidt | @kimberlyd

On a May 14 iHeartRadio program, host Julie Jones (far left) interviewed Mayo Clinic Flight Paramedic Tricia Riggott from Mayo's Trauma 1 Center, and Recruitment Coordinator Kim Schmidt (far right) from Mayo's Blood Donor Program in Rochester, Minnesota. The trio discussed that May is National Trauma Awareness Month and that there is always a constant need for blood donors. The interview appeared on local radio stations Laser 101.7 (KRCH-FM) and 102.5 The Fox (KMFX-FM).

During the interview, Julie asked Tricia about Mayo One and the importance of having enough blood product on hand for them to carry with them to trauma situations. Tricia said, "You know, Mayo Clinic can purchase safe, advanced helicopters. We can also recruit and hire the best flight paramedics and nurses, and we can purchase the newest cutting-edge medical equipment, but for many trauma patients, survival ultimately depends on getting the blood that they need back into their bodies."

Kim also shared, "Our data shows that 35.9% of the patients who receive blood products from us are trauma patients . . . and a lot of local hospitals do not have blood products on hand. Mayo One is sort of a 'blood bank in the sky' for these patients and hospitals in need."

A special thank you to Julie Jones and iHeartRadio for inviting us to share our need on their Sunday morning program.