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Carroll County proclaims EMS Week and highlights new prehospital whole-blood program
Summary
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 18–24 as Emergency Medical Services Week and heard officials describe a new prehospital whole-blood capability placed on county ALS chase units and ambulances, which county leaders said is intended to improve trauma and severe-bleeding outcomes.
Carroll County Commissioners on May 15 proclaimed May 18–24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week and heard department leaders describe a recently launched prehospital whole-blood program and other upgrades to the county’s emergency medical system.
The proclamation and briefing were presented during the Board of Carroll County Commissioners’ open session. Commissioners thanked career and volunteer EMS personnel and received a summary of changes county officials said have strengthened response capacity, including 16 24-hour advanced-life-support (ALS) transport ambulances, three ALS “chase” cars and the placement of whole blood units on those chase cars.
Why it matters: County officials said the new capability allows emergency crews to begin blood transfusions before patients reach the hospital, a step they described as potentially lifesaving in major trauma, postpartum hemorrhage and severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
Chief Eric Zaney, described by county staff as the county’s EMS chief, told commissioners that Carroll County became the 270th U.S. jurisdiction to provide prehospital blood. “With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the studies coming out of there … we knew we had to get [whole blood] within the county,” Zaney said, describing the rationale and clinical evidence behind the change. He added the county is placing three units of whole blood across its chase-car units so crews can “get a second unit of blood there within minutes.”
Chief Robinson and Lieutenant Michael Karolenko joined Zaney at the dais; Rick Baker, chair of the county’s Emergency Services Advisory Commission and a Mount Airy volunteer, attended with local volunteer and career EMS representatives. Commissioners noted the work involved cross-agency coordination and training, and they congratulated the paramedics credited with quickly putting the program in place. Chief Zaney identified Anthony Kavanaugh, Chris Petrie and Chloe Navidad as early contributors who helped build the program and shorten the usual implementation timeline.
County officials also said the EMS system expanded other capabilities: the county’s 911 center continues to handle prearrival instructions and caller triage, and officials reported progress on supervisory-level ALS coverage for some chase cars. Zaney said he received notice of a governor’s appointment naming him to the Maryland State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee; commissioners congratulated him on that selection.
Commissioners and fire/EMS officials described a recent incident that highlighted the system’s teamwork: a March cardiac arrest at a Texas Roadhouse where bystander CPR, AED use and coordinated dispatch and EMS care led to the patient’s hospital discharge days later. County staff said a press event recognizing the responders will be held the following week.
No formal board action was taken on EMS policy at the May 15 meeting; the proclamation and the briefing were recognition and informational items.
Ending: Commissioners closed the EMS segment by thanking the county’s volunteer and career responders and reaffirming continued support for training and equipment investments.
