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South Padre Island Fire Department to carry whole blood for EMS starting Memorial Day weekend
Summary
Fire Chief Jim Pigg announced the fire department will begin carrying whole blood on EMS transports, a change expected to aid trauma care for patients transported long distances.
South Padre Island’s Fire Department will begin carrying whole blood on emergency medical services transports starting this Friday, City Fire Chief Jim Pigg told the City Council as a staff announcement.
Pigg said the department partnered with South Texas Blood and Tissue and the Trauma Regional Advisory Council (TRAC) to launch the program. He credited Captain Emilio Hinojosa for leading the effort and said the city manager, Randy Smith, signed the contract to enable the service. Pigg said South Padre Island will be the second EMS provider in Cameron County and the fourth in the region to carry whole blood.
The chief described whole blood as a capability that gives a “leg up” when transporting trauma patients to distant hospitals and said the program’s launch is timed for the Memorial Day weekend. No formal council action was required; the announcement was presented as a staff update and the council offered congratulations.
The program’s partners and operational details were described in the meeting but the council did not review a written contract in open session beyond noting city manager approval.
