Why is blood donation important for air medical transport?

Air medical crews trained to administer whole blood can begin lifesaving transfusions during flight, before the patient reaches a hospital. Donated blood is what makes that capability possible.

Does PHI Air Medical carry blood on its aircraft?

Yes. PHI Air Medical carries whole blood on board certain aircraft so crews can stabilize patients in flight, which is often decisive in serious trauma.

Why is whole blood used instead of separate components in trauma?

In acute trauma, whole blood provides all the elements of blood in the correct ratios, closely mirroring what the patient has lost, so early administration can improve the chance of survival and recovery.

When is National Blood Donor Month?

It takes place every January, drawing attention to the lifesaving role of blood in healthcare, including air medical transport.

How does PHI Cares membership protect me if I need an air medical flight?

When PHI Air Medical or a cooperative partner performs a medically necessary transport for a member, PHI Cares covers your out-of-pocket cost for that flight, with no copays, no deductibles, and no coinsurance.

SERVING HAPPY, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

News, Resources, Tips, and Financial Security with PHI Cares Membership

PHI Air Medical helicopter in flight, the aircraft type that responds across the membership base network.

Featured

October 21, 2026

Does Your Membership Work in Another State? The 70-Base PHI Air Medical Network, State by State

Does my membership work in another state? It is one of the most common questions we get, and it usually arrives right before a trip. A family is heading to see relatives two states over, or a retiree is driving south for the winter, and someone wants to know whether...

back-to-school-safety-featured-school-bus

August 17, 2026

Back to School Safety: Bus Stops, New Drivers, and Smarter Routines

Back to School Safety: Bus Stops, New Drivers, and Smarter Routines Back to school safety belongs on every family’s August to-do list, right next to the supply run and the new sneakers. As classrooms reopen, millions of children return to bus stops, crosswalks, bike lanes, and carpool lines, and neighborhood...

extreme-heat-safety-featured-family-hydration

August 10, 2026

Extreme Heat Safety: How to Recognize and Respond to a Heat Emergency

Extreme Heat Safety: How to Recognize and Respond to a Heat Emergency Extreme heat safety deserves a place at the top of every household checklist in August. Late summer brings the hottest and most humid stretch of the year for much of the country, and heat claims more lives in...

August 3, 2026

Monsoon Safety: Lightning, Flash Floods, and Dust Storms in Late Summer

Monsoon Safety: Lightning, Flash Floods, and Dust Storms in Late Summer Monsoon safety becomes a daily topic across the Southwest every August, when afternoon skies build from clear blue to towering storm clouds in under an hour. The monsoon arrives when seasonal moisture meets extreme summer heat, creating the conditions...

May 5, 2026

Honoring the Power of Nurses: How PHI Air Medical Flight Nurses Bring ICU-Level Care to the Sky

National Nurses Week celebrates the most trusted profession in America. The American Nurses Association has chosen "The Power of Nurses™" as this year's theme, marking the ANA's 130th anniversary and recognizing the profound impact nurses have on healthcare, communities, and individual lives.¹ At PHI Air Medical, we celebrate every nurse...