TCAD and CBCO Make History with Southwest Missouri’s First Ambulance Blood Program

TCAD Paramedics Launches Pre-Hospital Blood Program in Partnership with Community Blood Center of the Ozarks

The joint release from CBCO and TCAD is below:

TCAD Paramedics is proud to announce the launch of our Pre-Hospital Blood Program in partnership with Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. This initiative makes TCAD Paramedics the first ambulance service in Southwest Missouri to carry and administer blood products.

TCAD Paramedics are now equipped with Never Frozen Plasma (Fresh Plasma) and Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs), allowing paramedics to begin critical blood transfusions before patients arrive at the hospital. Early blood administration has been proven to improve outcomes for patients suffering from severe trauma, hemorrhage, and certain medical emergencies.

The use of blood products outside the hospital setting has been extensively studied and proven effective on military battlefields, where early blood transfusion has dramatically improved survival rates. In recent years, a growing number of progressive ambulance services across the country have adopted similar programs with significant success.

To support the program, TCAD partnered with Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, the sole supplier of blood products for Southwest Missouri. This partnership ensures a reliable supply of blood products while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.

“Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is proud to partner with Taney County Ambulance District to launch the first pre-hospital blood program on ground ambulances in southwest Missouri,” said Anthony Roberts, Executive Director of Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. “This groundbreaking collaboration reflects our shared commitment to saving lives. Uncontrolled blood loss is the leading cause of death in trauma patients, and seconds matter. By enabling paramedics to begin blood transfusions before a patient arrives at the hospital, this program brings a critical, lifesaving resource directly to patients when they need it most.”

TCAD Paramedics leadership says the program represents another major advancement in bringing hospital-level critical care directly to patients in the field.

“Providing blood products in the pre-hospital environment is a significant step forward for emergency medical care in our region,” said Johnathan Tudor, Public Information Officer for TCAD Paramedics. “This program gives our paramedics another critical tool to improve patient outcomes during some of the most severe medical and traumatic emergencies we enccunter.”

Since launching the program on June 1, 2026, TCAD Paramedics have already administered blood products on two separate emergency calls—one involving a traumatic injury and another involving a serious medical emergency.

Development of the blood program included extensive coordination between TCAD Paramedics, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, regional healthcare partners, and medical oversight. TCAD has established a comprehensive system, with back-up systems, to ensure the proper storage, transport, administration, and quality assurance of blood products carried on ambulances.

The first group of paramedics completed transfusionist training in May, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely administer blood products in the prehospital environment. Additional paramedics are currently completing the training program as the service expands its capabilities.

"This program reflects our commitment to bringing the highest level of emergency care possible to the communities we serve," said Johnathan Tudor, TCAD Paramedics Public Information Officer.  "By investing in advanced treatments and specialized training, we're helping ensure patients receive critical interventions sooner, when they can make the greatest difference."

As the first ambulance service in Southwest Missouri to offer prehospital blood transfusions, TCAD continues to lead the region in innovative emergency medical care and patient-centered service.

The Taney County Boots, Badges and Bandages Blood Drive will be held on June 26, 2026 at the Hollister High School.  This blood drive, hosted by Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, helps supply blood to our community and our ambulance service!