Collection agent Karson Tabor prepares donor Eli Kiser from the Cabell County EMS during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Brittney Pritt, from Metal Center Recycling, lies down with the other donors during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Angel Steele prepares donor John Mandt Jr., Cabell County Commissioner, during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Karson Tabor prepares donor Eli Kiser from the Cabell County EMS during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Angel Steele prepares donor Darrell Ennis, assistant supervisor at Cabell County EMS, during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Karson Tabor prepares donor Eli Kiser from the Cabell County EMS during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Brittney Pritt, from Metal Center Recycling, lies down with the other donors during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Angel Steele prepares donor John Mandt Jr., Cabell County Commissioner, during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Karson Tabor prepares donor Eli Kiser from the Cabell County EMS during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
Collection agent Angel Steele prepares donor Darrell Ennis, assistant supervisor at Cabell County EMS, during a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the Tri State Fire Academy in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Approximately 47 people donated blood Friday for a program that helps trauma patients get blood sooner, giving back on a day that celebrates love.
Local residents and employees of the Cabell County Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) donated blood for its prehospital ground transport blood administration program, which started in November 2023 in partnership with St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Medical Hospital to help trauma patients get blood quicker. American Red Cross hosted the event, and CCEMS sponsored the blood drive.
CCEMS collected 61 units of blood for its first blood drive in July 2024. Last year, many of the donors were CCEMS employees. This time around, Julia Zeto, critical care transport program director at CCEMS, said donors were a mix of residents and employees.
Since the programÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s inception, CCEMS has administered 19 transfusions to patients and given 23 to 24 total units of blood, Zeto said. CCEMS has had a lot of positive outcomes for patients, Zeto said. She also said CCEMS staff feel like the program is making a difference in patient care and preventing hemorrhagic shock.
CCEMS will host another blood drive on July 15 at 203 Ohio River Road. The goal is to have a blood drive every six months, Zeto said.
The blood is supplied by St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Medical Center blood bank, which gets its blood from the Red Cross. None of the blood used for the program goes to waste. If the blood is close to its expiration date, CCEMS will give it back to St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s to be used inside the hospital.
Stewarts Original Hot Dogs donated $5 gift cards to each donor. CCEMS also gave out a date night prize pack for a drawing.
