The Putnam County EMS Department wants to explore carrying blood in ambulances during the new fiscal year.
Putnam County EMS Chief Tommy Copeland said there are only a few ambulance services across the nation that carry blood. Copeland said carrying blood could help the department better respond to emergencies.
“For people that are in really bad car crashes, some medical emergencies like obstetrics, you know, a smooth delivery to a child or whatever, they’ve got acute blood loss, acute fluid loss,” Copeland said. “Having blood readily available is a huge thing. It can make a huge difference, especially the earlier you can get it going.”
Copeland said the department will ask the Putnam County Commissioners for additional personnel and funding to purchase necessary equipment to carry blood.
Copeland said the blood shortage is one of the main reasons ambulance services usually do not carry blood.
“Only about five percent of eligible donors actually go and give blood,” Copeland said. “And so there’s kind of a chronic shortage or just barely enough blood available period.”
Copeland said if the department can start carrying blood, it may inspire more people to donate blood.
“I had this situation in my family, you know, my son needed blood immediately, my nephew needed blood immediately, and that being on the shelf and ready to go made the difference,” Copeland said. ” You know, so hopefully we’ll be able to get some more people to donate, and us being able to carry it, and when we need it immediately, have it there to deliver.”
Copeland said the amount of work that is needed to maintain blood is also why many ambulance services do not carry blood. Copeland said it is a daunting task and that most big ambulance services that do carry blood are hospital-based systems.
Copeland said the EMS Department is eyeing a partnership with Blood Assurance, the main blood supplier in the Upper Cumberland.