Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
Special Notice

The National Operations Center phone number, 888-211-1812, may not be working because of telephone issues at Maxwell Air Force Base. If that occurs, in case of an emergency please use (334) 354-9417. You can also email Opscenter@capnhq.gov.

60: Total lives saved by Civil Air Patrol so far in fiscal 2023, as credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

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Operation Pulse Lift - Emergency Blood Transport

Operation Pulse Lift 

Emergency Blood Transports

(Dial 1-800-851-3051)

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.

  1. Requesting agency, primary contact name, and phone number.
  2. Destination facility, contact name, and phone number.
  3. Description of items requiring transport (blood, organ, tissue, etc).
  4. Type and quantity of boxes with dimensions and weight.
  5. Desired pickup location. 
  6. Time available for pickup.
  7. Destination location and who will be picking up the items (with phone contacts).
  8. 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)
  9. 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 dropoff 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.