(WSVN) – The death of a fire chief in a Broward Sheriff’s Office helicopter crash last year was traumatic for a South Florida woman who had only met him once. He saved her life and is now saving many more lives with the help of a new BSO program.
7’s Heather Walker has her story.
Aaliyah Murray spent five months in the hospital after her car crashed into a tree late one night.
Aaliyah Murray: “I had a lot of broken bones from head to toe. I ended up breaking both my legs. Both knees, both femurs, my right leg, my pelvis. I was obviously losing a lot of blood.”
Paramedics from BSO Air Rescue 85 gave her blood on the way to the hospital.
Aaliyah Murray: “Without that, there would have been no chance of survival.”
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue is the first agency in Florida to transport and administer blood to trauma victims.
Dr. James Roach, medical director for the Broward Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical director for the Broward Health Department, came up with the idea after his family was involved in a bus accident and did not survive.
Dr. James Roach: “We’re thinking about all of these things. We’re thinking about how we can impact the community to help these people and give them a chance.”
The agency says the program keeps critically ill patients like Aaliyah alive long enough to end up in the emergency room.
Aaliyah Murray: “Fortunately, I know that the BSO Whole Blood Program was new at the time of my accident. If my accident had happened sooner, I may not have survived.”
Months after Aaliyah’s accident, one of the people who saved her life, Captain Terryson Jackson, died when his BSO helicopter crashed while en route to another emergency.
Aaliyah was surprised when she made the connection.
Aaliyah Murray: “When I heard about Tellison, it was definitely a lot to process, because my accident itself is a lot for me to process. I’m really sorry that I can’t thank him.”
Last month, Aaliyah was able to express her gratitude to other emergency workers who saved her life.
Mike Chaguaseda: “It’s really nice to meet you.”
Aaliyah Murray: “Thank you for saving my life.”
Mike Chaguaseda: “I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. Some of our troops requested that we try to remove you from the vehicle. We gave you a unit that saved your life or at least got you to the hospital to be treated by a trauma surgeon.”
Aaliyah Murray: “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for my life.”
BSO uses the blood of people who donate to an organization called OneBlood. Stored below freezing until use. After that, we will pack up our belongings and make an emergency dispatch.
Lt. Stephen Krivyanik is one of the few paramedics who transports and administers blood to patients.
7News was a passenger in the vehicle when responding to a call about a man who may have been hit by a car and suffering from internal bleeding.
The victim was loaded into an ambulance and given blood on the way to the hospital, which BSO said kept him stable throughout the ride.
Dr. James Roach: “So we do everything we can to get them there. We know they need a surgeon, but we just want to give them the right surgeon. We just want to provide resuscitation, so we’re giving the surgeon more time to actually do their job once they arrive.”
BSO says this is proof that the blood program is working.
Although Aaliyah still has a long road to recovery, she is already committed to helping BSO spread the word about the program to other institutions.
Aaliyah Murray: “Now I have the knowledge. Now I have the knowledge. So let me get through this and then I have a job to do!”
And, hopefully, more lifesaving assistance will be available across South Florida soon.
Heather Walker, 7News.
After months of treatment at Broward Health, Aaliyah started a recovery fund on GoFundMe.
You can support BSO by donating blood. Click here for more information.
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