A year-long effort to bring life-saving blood plasma to Madison County ambulances has already helped save two lives since launching in March, EMS worker Bobby Smith announced at Monday night’s Board of Commissioners meeting.

After months of vendor research and cost-cutting, the blood project was launched with $14,000 in private donations and community support. The portable system allows paramedics to administer plasma to trauma victims before they reach the hospital. Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death, according to a Grady study cited by Madison County EMS worker Bobby Smith.

The initial estimated cost of the program was $25,000, but Smith and his team were able to reduce it to $8,500 through vendor negotiations and additional support from the Georgia Trauma Commission. The county gets no cost beyond basic EMS supplies, as the blood itself is provided by local hospitals              and blood banks.    

In addition to Smith’s update, the board moved quickly through several agenda items, including the tabling of a $10 Probate Technology Fee to be collected over the next five years. The fee will help fund system upgrades in the probate court.

The board also unanimously approved a beer and wine license for Omni Colbert LLC, with no discussion or opposition from the public.

During the meeting, Chairman Todd Higdon issued a passionate call for more support and recognition of volunteer fire departments, which he said make up 70% of Georgia’s fire services. He stressed the importance of recent county efforts to improve recruitment, including a new local fire training facility.

“We always praise our EMS. We praise our Sheriff Department. I mean, they're all great caliber, but the ones that matter the most is the volunteers, because you don't fund those guys, they do it out of goodness or hearts,” said Higdon.

Since opening the training facility within the past six to eight months, the county has recruited 18 new volunteers. Higdon said the goal was to make training more accessible and cost-effective for residents who want to serve.