Carroll County’s Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (CCDFEMS) has launched its prehospital Low-Titer O Positive (LTO+) Whole Blood Program, positioning the County as the fifth EMS agency in Maryland and the 270th nationwide to deploy whole blood in emergency medical care.
This program builds on a practice proven effective in military medicine and is now increasingly embraced by civilian EMS systems.
Deploying whole blood in the field significantly improves survival rates for patients experiencing hemorrhagic shock, a life-threatening condition caused by severe blood loss.
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command, Howard County Fire & Rescue, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue, and Frederick County Fire & Rescue have reported substantial clinical benefits from prehospital whole blood use.
Enhanced Emergency Response Capabilities
Carroll County’s EMS chase units — EMS101 (Manchester), EMS102 (Taneytown), and EMS103 (Winfield) — now carry one unit of LTO+ Whole Blood each, along with specialized equipment for rapid and safe administration. Inova Healthcare Services supplies the blood units, rotating them every 14 days to ensure quality. If EMS crews do not administer the units in the field, they return to Inova for hospital use, ensuring no waste.
Delta ICE 2L® smart coolers maintain precise temperatures and store whole blood units. Each chase unit also carries a LifeFlow® rapid fluid infusion device, capable of delivering a unit of blood in under two minutes, and a QinFlow® fluid warmer to stabilize body temperature during transfusion.
Focus on Training and Clinical Excellence
CCDFEMS ensures all EMS clinicians assigned to these units are fully certified in Maryland Medical Protocols for LTO+ Whole Blood Administration and follow Carroll County Fire and EMS Standard Operating Procedures for blood use. This investment in training and technology represents a commitment to delivering cutting-edge emergency care for residents and visitors.
Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services Eric Zaney and Medical Director Dr. Stephanie Kemp led the program’s development alongside a dedicated team of paramedics. Their focus on clinical excellence and community safety continues to elevate Carroll County’s emergency response capabilities.
For more information, visit the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services website or contact DFEMS@carrollcountymd.gov or (410) 386-6800.
