03/03/2025
On February 25, 2025, the Kendall County Commissioners Court recognized KC-EMS Medics Greg Smith and Alek Denton, along with Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter Daniel White, for using whole blood to care for and transport a patient.
During the court session, Dr. Winckler, the patient’s son and Medical Director for San Antonio Fire and Ems, expressed gratitude to all, including the first to arrive on the scene—the bystanders who used a belt as a tourniquet and then Bergheim Fire for standardized tourniquets and care.
Upon the ambulance’s arrival, the patient was quickly loaded for transport, and Volunteer Firefighter White joined the medics on board to assist with patient care.
Providing whole blood in the pre-hospital setting can significantly improve patient outcomes, especially for those far from a trauma center or experiencing rapid deterioration. As Dr. Winckler stated, the first unit of whole blood on an ambulance did not occur until 2018, and only 40 counties in Texas carry whole blood. He thanked all personnel involved throughout the process, from on-scene to hospital care, stating it was “a complete group effort.”
Kendall County’s integration of whole blood in emergency response is a life-saving advancement in prehospital trauma care—minutes matter.
Thank you to Medics Smith and Denton for your dedication, and a special recognition to Firefighter Daniel White for his service as a volunteer firefighter. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to all involved for your commitment to the citizens of Kendall County.
You can find the KCCC recognition at approximately 19:57 minutes.
https://youtu.be/56J7Fp7Z-r0?si=wFpP5Vg66CVnRjsB Kendall County EMS San Antonio Fire Department