Grand County EMS began carrying blood in ambulances and emergency response vehicles on July 1, allowing paramedics to treat life-threatening bleeding at the scene of injuries. The program aims to reduce time between injury and treatment across the county's 3,600-square-mile response area.
Expanding Prehospital Care
The new initiative expands capabilities for treating hemorrhagic shock before patients reach a hospital. According to Moab Times reporting, blood transfusions in Grand County were previously only available once a patient arrived at a medical facility or through specific air medical flights.
Under the current rollout, specially trained paramedics can provide transfusions in the field. Initially, an EMS shift captain will carry blood products and can deliver them directly to serious incidents anywhere within the county's jurisdiction, which includes highways, national parks, and remote backcountry terrain.
Life-Saving Potential
The program was developed over more than a year through coordination between EMS leadership, medical directors, and the American Red Cross, according to Grand County EMS. Clinical Quality Captain Mike Flanagan assisted in leading the development of protocols, training, and implementation.
Dr. Deidre Flanagan, co-medical director for Grand County EMS, noted that bleeding is the primary cause of preventable death in trauma cases. She stated that prehospital blood transfusion can reduce the risk of death by approximately 50%, adding that only one to two percent of EMS agencies nationwide possess this resource.
Rural Emergency Response
Grand County EMS Executive Director Andy Smith said the program supports the agency's mission to provide high-quality care to rural populations. Smith noted that the agency operates under the principle that a person's location should not determine their survival, whether they are a local resident or a visitor injured in the backcountry.
Erik Bornemeier, director of the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, echoed the importance of the capability for remote areas, stating that delivering blood at an emergency scene will undoubtedly save lives when trauma centers may be hours away.
Future Program Growth
Grand County EMS expects the program to expand as training and supply capacity increase. While the blood transfusion program is a recent July launch, other regional aquatic safety professionals continue to utilize American Red Cross certifications for community training.
