Hall County Fire Rescue (HCFR) Tuesday revealed what’s being called a “significant advancement” in pre-hospital emergency care with the utilization of blood products.
HCFR NEWS RELEASE:
“This life-saving initiative will allow paramedics to administer blood to patients on scene or during transport to the hospital. Studies have shown that the administration of blood pre-hospital not only improves the chance of survival but decreases the need for more blood once in the hospital and
reduces recovery time.
“This initiative represents a major step forward in the level of pre-hospital care provided by Hall County Fire Rescue to Hall County. It allows our medics to intervene sooner and ultimately save more lives,” said EMS Chief Bobby Ogletree.
This program is the result of extensive planning, specialized training and specific collaboration with Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Ogletree added. “All paramedics and field supervisors have completed
advanced training in blood administration, proper storage, and replacement procedures.”
A temperature-controlled cooler, specifically designed for blood products, will house the blood. The program will begin with two field supervisor vehicles and eventually increase to four throughout the
county. They will respond with the blood products to incidents involving patients with severe blood loss, traumatic injuries or other medical needs requiring intravenous blood.