It took 45 minutes for firefighters to get a 35-year-old man out of a “heavily damaged” car following a car crash on Saturday, officials said. The man’s injuries were extensive, with low blood pressure, shock and internal bleeding.

Quickly, firefighters and paramedics decided to try a new lifesaving method starting at the crash site: whole blood transfusion.

The method had never been done in Massachusetts before, according to the Canton Fire Department. However, in March, the Canton Fire Department and 25 other cities and towns in Massachusetts worked with Boston Medical Center to launch the first pilot program in Massachusetts history for administering whole blood before a patient reaches the hospital, the press release stated.

On Saturday, the fire department put it into action.

The crash happened in Braintree during the early morning hours, officials said. The Braintree Fire Department and Brewster Ambulance paramedics “swiftly” put in a request to the Canton Fire Department for the whole blood transfusion.

Paramedics put the 35-year-old in the ambulance where Canton Fire Field Transfusion Paramedic Michael White and EMT Jonathan Buckley started the transfusion. On his way to Boston Medical Center, the man’s vital signs improved, according to officials. Once at the hospital, he was taken to surgery.

“This groundbreaking program represents a significant advancement in prehospital care and has already proven its worth in it first use,” said Fire Chief Wendell Robery. “The successful administration of whole blood in the field is a testament to our paramedics’ and EMTs’ training, preparedness and dedication. We are grateful for the collaboration with Boston Medical Center and the support of our neighboring communities.”

Transfusions with specific blood components are common in hospital settings and are often used for trauma but whole blood might be becoming more common.

The leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. is massive bleeding caused by a traumatic injury, U.S. News and World Report wrote. Most of the deaths occur within six hours.

In an article by the Boston University School of Medicine, it pointed to a new study that suggested a person who receives whole blood transfusion for severe traumatic bleeding earlier has a greater chance of survival.

“However, if this transfusion is delayed by as little as 14 minutes after arriving at the hospital, the survival benefit is significantly reduced,” the university wrote.

Crisanto Torres, assistant professor of surgery at the school, said in the article that there was a “decrease in survival probability for each minute delay in whole blood transfusion.”

She said she hopes this encourages more hospitals to use whole blood as a standard emergency transfusion product and more consideration for it to be used at the scene of an injury or during transport to the hospital.

Could a Bay Stater take the championship belt at the iconic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest?

With world record holder Joey Chestnut out this year, the door has been opened for a new champ — which could be Massachusetts resident Geoffrey Esper.

The 49-year-old Oxford man, who finished in second place at last year’s contest, is one of the favorites for the legendary competition on the Fourth of July.

“I got a chance at the belt now,” Esper told the Herald ahead of Thursday’s contest.

“It’s still not going to be easy,” he added. “There are three other guys who are all pretty close, so it should be very close.”

The annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Championship, an American holiday tradition, will be held at the iconic Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island.

Last year, Chestnut claimed his 16th victory with 62 hot dogs and buns in the 10-minute, all-you-can-eat contest. Chestnut’s world record is 76 hot dogs and buns.

But Chestnut won’t be competing this year after he signed a deal with a rival brand. That means Esper, whose personal record is 51 hot dogs and buns, could get the top prize.

“It just depends on who has a really good day, and we’ll see what happens,” said Esper, who teaches electronics at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton.

“I’m just going to go out there and try to do my best,” he added.

The women’s competition begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday, and the men’s competition will start at 12:30 p.m. Nathan’s Famous will also make its annual donation of 100,000 Nathan’s Famous hot dogs to the Food Bank for New York City prior to the event.

“Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is the ultimate American holiday tradition,” said Phil McCann, VP of Marketing at Nathan’s Famous. “Each year thousands of fans join us at Nathan’s Flagship on the corner of Surf and Stillwell to witness history in the making.”

Thousands make the trip to Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island each year to watch the event in person. According to Major League Eating archives, the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Championship has occurred each July 4 in Coney Island since 1916.

“The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest has transformed America’s Independence Day into an international affair,” said Major League Eating Chair George Shea. “The greatest eaters from around the globe will once again convene in Coney Island to fight for the honor of their respective nations.”