The Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (CCDFEMS) proudly announces the official launch of its prehospital Low-Titer O Positive (LTO+) Whole Blood Program. With this milestone, Carroll County becomes the 5th prehospital EMS agency in Maryland, and the 270th agency nationwide, to implement the lifesaving use of LTO+ Whole Blood in the prehospital setting.
For decades, the use of whole blood in prehospital care has been a cornerstone of military medicine and is increasingly embraced by civilian EMS systems across the United States. It has proven to significantly improve the chances of survival in patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock, a life-threatening condition caused by severe blood loss.

Surrounding jurisdictions that have already deployed prehospital LTO+ Whole Blood programs such as the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, Howard County Fire & Rescue, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue, and Frederick County Fire & Rescue have reported remarkable clinical improvements in critically ill and injured patients. The evidence is clear: prehospital whole blood saves lives.
As part of Carroll County's deployment, CCDFEMS EMS chase units, EMS101 (Manchester), EMS102 (Taneytown), and EMS103 (Winfield) will each be equipped with 1 unit of LTO+ Whole Blood, along with the specialized equipment required for safe and effective administration.
The LTO+ Whole Blood units are supplied by Inova Healthcare Services division of Blood Donor Services and are replaced every 14-days. Units that are not administered in the prehospital setting will return to Inova so that they can be further utilized in the hospital setting, thus ensuring no precious blood products go to waste.

The Whole Blood units will be housed in portable Delta ICE 2L® smart coolers, which provide continuous temperature monitoring to ensure the integrity of the blood supply. Additionally, each EMS chase vehicle will carry a LifeFlow® rapid fluid infusion device, capable of delivering a unit of blood in under two minutes, and a QinFlow® fluid warmer to safely warm the blood prior transfusion—an essential step in mitigating the effects of hemorrhagic shock.

All CCDFEMS EMS clinicians assigned to the EMS chase vehicles, along with those credentialed to act in their place, have undergone comprehensive education and hands-on training. They are credentialed in the Maryland Medical Protocols for LTO+ Whole Blood Administration, as well as the Carroll County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Standard Operating Procedures governing whole blood use and documentation.

The development of this program is the direct result of months of hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to clinical excellence by Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services Eric Zaney, Medical Director Dr. Stephanie Kemp, and a team of highly motivated Carroll County paramedics committed to advancing the department’s mission and success.
The launch of this program represents a major step forward in emergency medical care for the residents and visitors of Carroll County. Through innovation, training, and partnership, the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services continues to lead the way in delivering the highest standard of prehospital emergency medical care.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services extends its deepest gratitude to Carroll County Government for their invaluable support.

For any questions regarding the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services please visit https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/fireandems or contact the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services via email at DFEMS@carrollcountymd.gov or via phone at (410) 386-6800.