To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson
title
RE: Approval of a request by the Genesee County's Sheriff's Office to enter into an agreement between the Genesee County Paramedics Division and the American Red Cross of East Central Bay Michigan (Flint Chapter) for the Pilot Partnership Prehospital Blood Transfusion Program, in the amount of $50,000.00, to provide life-saving emergency blood transfusion services in the field for trauma and medical patients of Genesee County for FY 25/26; these services would be at a cost of $600/patient to be paid account from 2110-313.00-801.000
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
An approval to enter an agreement/partnership Prehospital Blood Transfusion program with our local Genesee County American Red Cross and the Genesee County Office of the Sheriff Paramedic Division to provide for and administer life-saving blood transfusions in the field on the way to the hospitals for Medical Emergency and Trauma patients of Genesee County. This would be a pilot program to be paid for, not using general funds from the Medics account 2110-313.00-764.000 in an initial amount of $50,000.00 (at a rate of $600 per-patient blood cost). For FY25/26.
BACKGROUND:
Currently there are other pilot programs doing this very same service, as close as Saginaw, Michigan (MMR Ambulance Service); Fort Wayn, IN (Three Rivers Ambulance Authority), Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Armed Services Blood Program to name a few.
DISCUSSION:
Severe bleeding is the primary cause of preventable fatalities in trauma patients, including those involved in a motor-vehicle crash. But with the prompt delivery of prehospital blood or blood products, it’s estimated that 37% of trauma patients with severe bleeding could be saved. For every minute of delay in administering blood, the risk of death increases by 11%. (source ems.gov)
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
N/A
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
No general funds would be affected. Utilizing $50,000.00 from the Medics Supplies account: 2110-313.00-801.000.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
N/A
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
N/A
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
The approval of this groundbreaking pilot program would significantly enable the Paramedics to administer additional life-saving services to promote the health and well-being of our community in an Emergency.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Office of Genesee County Sheriff to authorize entering into a pilot partnership between Genesee County, through the Sheriff’s Paramedic division, and the local Genesee County American Red Cross, to participate in a pre-hospital blood transfusion program whereby Genesee County will purchase whole blood at a total cost not to exceed $50,000.00 to be paid from account 2110-313.00-801.000, with no county appropriation required, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the December 3, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the agreement following review and approval by Corporation Counsel, and the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendment.