Texas’ most engaging EMS conference is approaching swiftly! Education By The Sea arrives in Port Aransas on May 8-10, 2024, and registrations are open through mid-April. Dive into the details of the 2024 conference through our sneak peek series featuring speakers and sessions.
Meet Kenneth Pippin, Lieutenant and Paramedic with the City of New Braunfels Fire Department. He will present the “Pre-Hospital Whole Blood Saves Lives” session on Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m.
Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services run in Lieutenant Pippin’s family. He is one of the four field professionals in his close circle. A tradition that he hopes to pass on to his 8-year-old son. “My father, a retired Assistant Fire Chief and EMS Captain, still volunteers as a firefighter nowadays. My mother is a retired Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and my brother is a Firefighter/EMT,” he says.
In addition to his familial ties, Pippin boasts an impressive 19 years of experience working with EMS and Fire in Colorado and Texas. Alongside his role as the Medical Officer for NBFD’s EMS Division, he also serves as an Adjunct Instructor with Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT).
Lieutenant Pippin has pursued higher education to further enhance his skills and knowledge in the field. He holds a Bachelor’s in Fire and Emergency Services Administration and an Associate’s in EMS. His professional portfolio includes experience presenting at multiple national conferences, including the EMS World Expo.
Reasoning Behind the Topic
In his nearly 20 years working with EMS, Pippin has seen meaningful changes, with pre-hospital blood transfusions standing out as the most significant. “Low-titer O+ Whole Blood (LTOWB) transfusions are by far the biggest life-saving change I have witnessed. Its efficacy in treating patients with hemorrhagic shock is widely recognized,” Pippin asserts.
However, the logistical challenges and cost of deploying LTOWB pre-hospital have largely prevented its expansion beyond Trauma Centers. “Through collaborative efforts between the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), hospitals, and EMS agencies in the San Antonio region, including New Braunfels Fire Department, these logistic and cost hurdles have been overcome,” he explains.
Since the program’s inception in 2018, hemorrhagic trauma mortality rates have decreased by an estimated 50%, according to Pippin. “This successful regional approach to Pre-Hospital LTOWB transfusions serves as a model that could be replicated nationwide,” he affirms.
Session Insights
Pippin’s session aims to highlight the importance of Whole Blood programs for EMS providers. “Hemorrhage remains the primary cause of preventable death in trauma patients,” he emphasizes.
The lieutenant will also present the benefits of LTOWB, the logistics of supplying and administering LTOWB, and patient outcomes and mortality rates. Additionally, Pippin will advise on how to replicate STRAC’s LTOWB program.
Industry Outlook
Pippin holds an optimistic view of the future of the EMS industry. “As we continue to invest in evidence-based medicine and continual improvement, I expect to see LTWOB programs spread nationwide to save more lives,” he concludes.
Don’t miss Lieutenant Pippin’s “Pre-Hospital Whole Blood Saves Lives” session on Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m.