The City of Paris EMS is pleased to announce a new prehospital whole blood program that lets paramedics administer low titer O whole blood to qualifying patients before they reach the hospital.
The program represents a significant advancement in emergency medical care available to patients in Paris and Lamar County.
On Tuesday, October 13, the Deputy Chief vehicle began carrying blood and will respond to scenes where patients are experiencing life-threatening blood loss and meet established clinical criteria.
Severe blood loss can become life-threatening within minutes. Having blood available at the scene allows paramedics to begin replacing lost blood during transport rather than waiting until the patient arrives at the hospital.
“This has been a long time in the making, and we are excited to bring this capability to our community,” said Paris EMS Assistant Chief Jason Dyess. “Our goal is to provide our patients with the highest level of emergency care possible before they reach the hospital. Having whole blood available in the field gives our paramedics another important tool when treating patients with life-threatening blood loss.”
The program involved extensive planning, training and collaboration with Paris EMS Medical Director Dr. Skipper Bertrand of BEST EMS, Northeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, Carter BloodCare, and other regional partners.
Northeast Texas Regional Advisory Council funds the program through a statewide prehospital whole blood program administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Paris EMS is grateful for NETRAC’s assistance and support in bringing this program to Lamar County.
“Prehospital blood administration is a significant responsibility, and it is important that we use this resource appropriately,” said Dr. Bertrand. “Our paramedics have been trained on both the clinical indications and safety requirements associated with blood administration. Every administration will be reviewed as part of our quality improvement process as we continue to learn and improve the program.”
Paris EMS provides pre-hospital care across all 933 square miles of Lamar County.
When a patient experiences life-threatening blood loss, Paris EMS paramedics will now have the ability to begin blood replacement therapy before the patient arrives at the hospital. This capability can be particularly valuable in rural areas, where patients may have longer transport times to definitive medical care.
“This is another example of our commitment to bringing advanced EMS capabilities to our community,” Dyess said. “We are proud of the work our paramedics have put into preparing for this program, and we are excited about what it can mean for our patients.”
Paris EMS has also expanded its pre-hospital care capabilities by using point-of-care ultrasound. This capability allows paramedics to obtain real-time images that can help assess critically ill patients and guide treatment decisions.
Additionally, a prehospital antibiotic program lets paramedics start time-sensitive antibiotic treatment for eligible patients before they reach the hospital. Early recognition and treatment of serious infections, particularly sepsis, can be critical to improving patient outcomes.
These expanded prehospital care options reduce delays and give our community access to advanced treatments previously available only in larger metropolitan ambulance services.
The City of Paris EMS provides 911 emergency medical services to the City of Paris and Lamar County. The department is committed to providing high-quality emergency medical care through advanced clinical capabilities, ongoing education, quality improvement and strong community partnerships.
