VIDEO: Horry County Fire Rescue announced the beginning of a new program on Wednesday that will allow them to transport and infuse blood during a trauma crisis.
According to officials from HCFR, they will be transporting “O” positive blood in addition to plasma as well.
Across the United States, roughly 1% of EMS units carry blood in their vehicles, and there are only five others in the state of South Carolina.
Now in Horry County, two safety and medical officers will be carrying coolers with blood to be ready for any medical emergency.
“Yeah, this is absolutely life-changing across our county. We’ve already been able to give this once to an individual within 24 hours of us putting it in service,” said Horry County Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Ben Lawson.
The addition of this program was not done alone, though. HCFR will be receiving blood from the Red Cross going forward, and they have partnered with Conway Medical Center to ensure no blood goes to waste.
