Decatur County, IN —8/18/2025— Letts Fire/EMS announced today that beginning tomorrow evening, it will become the first ambulance service in Southeastern Indiana to carry blood products on a 911 ambulance. The service will stock O-positive packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and liquid plasma, enabling trauma victims to receive lifesaving transfusions before they reach the hospital.
The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma has long emphasized that early administration of blood in the field saves lives. For severely injured patients suffering from uncontrolled bleeding, every minute matters. Studies show that pre-hospital blood transfusion significantly increases the likelihood of patients arriving at the hospital alive and stable enough for life-saving surgery.
Blood products will be stored in a Delta blood cooler, a medical-grade unit designed specifically for emergency response. The cooler ensures safe temperature control, reliability, and portability so that blood is always ready when seconds matter.
“This is a game-changer for trauma care in our community,” said Dan Rauh Operational Medical Director of Letts Fire/EMS. “By carrying blood in the field, we can begin treatment right at the patient’s side. It means we are giving critically injured people a better chance to survive and return home to their families.”
Within the next 14 days, the program will expand to the Letts Fire/EMS paramedic chase vehicle in Franklin County, extending the reach of pre-hospital blood therapy even further.
This advancement was made possible through strong community partnerships:
Proceeds from the Annual Fish Fry at the Decatur County 4-H Fair will be put towards this project.
A grant from the Decatur County Community Foundation, which provided partial funding for the Delta cooler used in Decatur County.
A grant from the Franklin County Indiana Health Department, which is funding the cooler for the Franklin County paramedic chase vehicle.
“This is what community support makes possible,” said Matt Morrow, Chief and Critical Care Paramedic. “From local fundraisers to county and foundation grants, our partners have invested in cutting-edge pre-hospital care that will save lives right here at home.”
“Battalion Chief Calvin Venable has championed this project. From the day he was assigned the task to today, he has worked tirelessly to make this day happen” said Chief Morrow
Letts Fire/EMS is proud to lead the region in pre-hospital blood therapy and remains committed to advancing emergency medical care for the residents of Decatur and Franklin counties.
