EDIE ZUVANICH Special to the Press
WILLIAMSON COUNTY — We Are Blood, a Central Texas blood bank, and Williamson County Emergency Medical Services have partnered in a new initiative to provide blood to critical patients directly at the scene of emergencies. O-negative blood will be carried to incident sites by Williamson County EMS paramedic commanders.
“We put the first unit of blood out in mid-November. In late December, all three commanders were carrying one unit of blood,” said Mike Knipstein, director of Williamson County EMS.
Blood units are rotated to decrease likelihood of expiration.
Knipstein said the agency’s first use of on-site blood infusion was at a traffic accident on a major thoroughfare in the eastern part of the county.
“It just highlights the importance of having this tool in our toolbox, especially in the rural areas because of the distance to a trauma hospital. On the east side of the county, it’s quite a distance. It allows us to get that whole blood going before they even make it to the facility,” Knipstein said.
Two Williamson County EMS paramedic commanders cover the eastern part of the county, one stationed in Round Rock and the other in the Weir area. Commanders, driving specialized Chevrolet Tahoes, respond to every high acuity call along with an ambulance.
“I’m just incredibly proud of our team for implementing this. Not many do. Logistics behind doing it is very complicated,” Knipstein said. “Thanks to our county commissioners for funding the program. It is not inexpensive to deliver but we’ve used it seven times so far and we’ve seen incredible results and we hope to hear many more successful stories from it.”
Williamson County EMS and We Are Blood are holding a blood drive Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. at 3189 S.E. Inner Loop in Georgetown to honor the partnership. Members of the first Williamson County EMS crew to administer blood to an injured patient will be present.
