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Iron County helps lead five‑county DOT grant to place whole blood on ambulances; drone delivery proposed for year three
Summary
Emergency management staff reported Iron County joined four other rural counties to submit a federal DOT grant to equip EMS vehicles to carry whole blood and train on‑scene transfusions; if funded, the third grant year would develop drone delivery from hospitals to accident scenes.
Emergency management staff described a fast‑tracked federal DOT grant application submitted by a five‑county consortium (Iron, Grand, Carbon, Emery, Juab) to equip ambulances with the capability to carry whole blood and to train EMS crews to initiate transfusions on scene.
Staff said the application built on a previous successful DOT award and that the first two grant years focus on building infrastructure, equipping ambulances (Gold Cross partners were engaged) and training crews. The proposed third year would collaborate with the University of Utah engineering department to pilot drone delivery of whole blood from hospitals to accident scenes in remote areas.
Staff and commissioners called the effort “life changing,” noting West Valley City is the only current program in Utah they cited as a precedent with dramatic results. The grant was submitted within a short time window and the county awaits the DOT decision; staff said the state and regional EMS partners supported the application and would assist with implementation if funded.
No formal action or county match appropriation was recorded at the meeting; staff said they had county support and would bring a funding or acceptance request back to the commission if the grant is awarded.
