Fayette County, GA -- August 25, 2025 -- Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services is proud to announce the launch of its Pre-Hospital Blood Transfusion Program, now officially operational as of this afternoon. Both Squad-2 and Squad-10 are fully equipped with life-saving blood products, ready to be administered on scene when the emergent need arises.

This capability ensures that critically injured patients no longer have to wait until arrival at a trauma center to receive blood transfusions, treatment that often makes the difference between life and death. With transport times to the nearest trauma centers ranging from 30 to 45 minutes, this new initiative will have a profound impact on survival outcomes in Fayette County.

"Fayette County is still somewhat a rural community, and blood availability during a transport will make a significant difference," said Steven Rapson, County Manager. "Prehospital blood saves lives, and we're fortunate to be able to provide this service to our residents," he said.

"Our blood administration program will be a life-changer for patients requiring trauma care and resuscitation in Fayette County. Administering blood and blood products for trauma and other medical bleeding conditions while transporting to the trauma center equates to lives saved. This is the gold standard for trauma resuscitation and medical bleeding emergencies in the pre-hospital environment, and we are proud to be on the cutting-edge of this standard," Jeffrey Hill, Fire Chief, said.

Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services is the first department in Georgia EMS Region 4 -- a 12-county area -- to implement this advanced care program, and one of only a handful of agencies across the state to offer pre-hospital transfusions.

According to Assistant Chief Scott Roberts, "An analysis of incident data of the past three years showed that an average of 20 patients per year could have benefited from blood transfusion therapy. There is no doubt that having the ability for our medics to administer blood en route to the hospital will save lives."

The statistics are clear: severe bleeding is the leading cause of preventable deaths in trauma cases. Research shows that for every minute a transfusion is delayed, the risk of death increases by 11%. By making blood products immediately available, Fayette County paramedics are now better equipped than ever to intervene quickly and effectively.

The program's initial launch was made possible through the generous support of the Fayette Fire Foundation, which purchased all of the equipment necessary to begin this initiative. The Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicates 100% of donations directly to supporting Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services. Fayette County also thanks its vital partners, LifeSouth Blood Bank and the Fayette Fire Foundation, for providing the blood products and supplies to make this groundbreaking program a reality.

Looking ahead, Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services plans to further strengthen its partnership with LifeSouth as the program's official blood bank once supplies allow. The county also encourages residents to donate blood, as each contribution directly supports the sustainability of this life-saving initiative and helps save lives across the community.