Fire department would carry whole blood to trauma scenes under a state-funded regional pilot up for council approval

Paramedics in The Colony could begin giving blood transfusions in the field, before a badly injured patient reaches an emergency room, if the City Council approves two agreements on its Wednesday, Nov. 4, agenda.

The agreements would enroll The Colony Fire Department in the Prehospital Whole Blood Pilot Program, which the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (NCTTRAC) runs with the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The program covers patients losing large amounts of blood from trauma, from hemorrhage related to childbirth and from other serious medical conditions, with the goal of starting resuscitation where the patient is found.

According to a memo from Fire Chief Shannon Stephens, NCTTRAC has set aside $1.2 million to help EMS agencies in its 19-county trauma service area, which includes Denton, Collin, Dallas and Tarrant counties, start whole-blood programs. Agencies that are approved can get a starter set of equipment.

The city pays NCTTRAC nothing to join, and that first set of equipment comes at no cost, the staff summary says.

The city would carry the ongoing load. The memo says The Colony would be responsible for maintaining the equipment and supplies, training crews and keeping the program running under NCTTRAC's rules.

What joining requires

The memorandum of understanding spells out a long list of duties for participating EMS agencies. Among them:

Written clinical guidelines covering who qualifies for blood, who does not, consent and how to handle a transfusion reaction.
A signed supply contract with a licensed blood bank, plus a backup plan for a second source if the first cannot deliver.
Temperature monitoring for stored blood through a regional system, and reporting within 24 hours of any suspected transfusion reaction or equipment failure.
Ongoing case reviews, including of patients who met the criteria but did not get blood.
Launching the program within 10 days of approval by the blood supplier, unless NCTTRAC agrees otherwise.

The memo of understanding says the statewide effort is backed by $10 million in state money. The city attorney reviewed both documents and found no changes were needed, Stephens wrote, and staff recommend approval.

Both agreements are on the consent agenda, which the council can pass in a single vote. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 6053 Main St.

Sources

thecolony.granicus.com

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