By Kathryn Dean, American Red Cross volunteer
Sugarcreek Fire & Rescue has just surpassed the 1-year mark of the initiation of a pre-hospital blood transfusion program, and they have good reason to celebrate. Not only are they the first department in the state of Ohio to offer blood transfusions in the field, but their team has been integral in making this service available statewide.
In partnership with the American Red Cross, their paramedics are able to administer lifesaving blood to patients who require blood transfusions, prior to ever reaching the hospital. According to EMS.gov, when a person has heavy bleeding, it can take as little as 5 minutes for death to occur. In addition, trauma patients are four times more likely to survive if they are able to receive whole blood products in the field.
Cody Shetler, the Assistant Fire Chief and a paramedic at Sugarcreek Fire & Rescue explained that it was a project that was in the works well before its initiation in April 2025.
“Being so rural, … our closest level one trauma center is about 60 miles away. We saw a need for it, not very often, but when it did happen and we couldn’t get a helicopter onto the scene, we saw a need where blood products would be beneficial to the patient’s outcome.”
He further explained, “The paramedic scope of practice had to be changed in order for paramedics to be able to start blood products anywhere, either in the hospital or in the field…so I actually joined the Medical Oversight Committee at the state level, a few years before this, my whole goal of getting the scope changed to allow paramedics to give blood products.”
Sugarcreek Fire & Rescue worked with their medical director to create a training program that would prepare their paramedics for their new role. Once that was done, they were able to move forward in their partnership with the Red Cross to supply the blood needed to run this program.
They acquired the necessary equipment, including an infuser and warmer that allow them to deliver the blood products by hand right at the scene, or in transit to the hospital. They also purchased a portable cooler, specially designed to house blood products and ensure they stay at a safe temperature for storage.
The blood comes directly from the Red Cross blood bank in Cleveland, Ohio. When properly refrigerated, whole blood can be stored for up to 21-35 days. In addition, Sugarcreek Fire & Rescue is working to become AABB-accredited, which would allow them to drop off any unused blood products to nearby hospitals so they can be used prior to their expiration date.
Since the initiation of the program, Sugarcreek Fire & Rescue has been able to administer blood in the field to eight patients, all of whom survived the 24-hour mark, and seven of whom survived to hospital discharge. Cody estimated that around 50% of the patients were due to traumas, such as motor vehicle accidents or farm/factory injuries. The other 50% were from medical conditions, with one patient being a woman from the Amish community who hemorrhaged after a home birth.
Recently, their department was awarded the 2025 Pediatric Clinical Save Award for being the first fire department in Ohio to administer blood products in the field to a pediatric patient.
“I think that these programs are obviously incredibly lifesaving for rural communities,” Cody said. “Logistically, it doesn’t make sense for every ambulance to carry blood, but I think it definitely makes sense to have it strategically placed in areas to be able to cover a large swath of land, whether that’s multiple departments or counties, or jurisdictions.”
To ensure this cycle of life continues, they host a blood drive every other month at a local church in their community. You can support their lifesaving mission by participating in a local blood drive near you by visiting www.redcrossblood.org.
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