Reeves County Emergency Service Districts Nos. 1 & 2

09/02/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2026
Contact: Michael Authement, 432-448-9713

REEVES COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 2 LAUNCHES PREHOSPITAL WHOLE BLOOD PROGRAM

REEVES COUNTY, TX — Reeves County Emergency Services District No. 2 has launched its prehospital whole blood program, giving District paramedics the ability to administer whole blood to critically ill and injured patients before they reach the hospital.

The program officially went into service September 2, 2026, making Reeves County ESD No. 2 the first ground EMS agency in Reeves County to carry and administer whole blood in the prehospital setting.

Low-Titer O-Positive Whole Blood (LTOPWB) will be carried on the District's EMS Battalion Chief unit and will be available throughout Reeves County's 2,642 square miles. The resource may also be requested by surrounding EMS agencies through established mutual aid agreements.

For a patient experiencing life-threatening blood loss, getting blood early can be critical. This is especially important in rural West Texas, where distance creates a significant challenge in accessing definitive trauma care. Some areas of Reeves County are more than two hours from the nearest Level II trauma center and up to four hours from the nearest Level I trauma center.

The new program allows Reeves County ESD No. 2 paramedics to bring whole blood directly to the patient and begin treatment while the patient is still in the prehospital setting. Both adult and pediatric patients suffering from traumatic injuries or medical emergencies involving suspected significant blood loss may be candidates to receive whole blood.

Unlike traditional IV fluids, whole blood replaces the critical blood components lost during severe hemorrhage. Having this capability in the field provides District paramedics with another advanced tool to treat patients during the crucial period between the onset of an emergency and arrival at definitive care.

“In rural West Texas, distance is one of the greatest challenges we face. We cannot shorten the road to definitive care, but we can bring lifesaving treatment closer to the patient. That is a meaningful step forward for emergency care in Reeves County,” said Ronald Lee, Joint Emergency Services Chief.

More Than a Year of Preparation
The program represents more than a year of planning and preparation by Reeves County ESD No. 2 personnel. Team members dedicated significant time to developing clinical guidelines, policies and procedures, training requirements, blood storage and monitoring procedures, and the operational framework needed to safely bring whole blood into the field.

The Reeves County ESD No. 2 Board of Commissioners also played a vital role in bringing the program to fruition through its continued commitment to providing District personnel with the resources, equipment and training necessary to advance emergency medical care in Reeves County.

State, Regional and Local Partnerships
The program was made possible through collaboration at the state, regional and local levels. The Texas Legislature appropriated $10 million to support the Texas Prehospital Whole Blood Program, an initiative designed to expand access to whole blood for patients suffering from life-threatening hemorrhage in the prehospital environment.

Through the statewide initiative, Texas Regional Advisory Council J (JRAC) provided Reeves County ESD No. 2 with primary blood storage and administration equipment needed to implement the program.

“We are grateful for the investment our Board, the State of Texas and JRAC have made in bringing prehospital whole blood to communities like ours,” said Michael Authement, Assistant Chief of EMS. “Geography should not determine whether a critically injured patient has access to lifesaving care. In Reeves County, we cannot change the distance between our patients and a trauma center, but we can continue bringing more advanced care directly to the patient's side. Whole blood gives our paramedics another powerful tool to do exactly that.”

South Texas Blood & Tissue will supply the Low-Titer O-Positive Whole Blood carried by the District.

Because whole blood is a precious and limited resource with a 35-day shelf life, Reeves County ESD No. 2 has partnered with Reeves Regional Health to establish a rotation program designed to maximize the use of every unit.

The District will carry each unit during the first 14 days of its rotation. If it is not administered in the prehospital setting during that period, the unit will be transferred to Reeves Regional Health, where it can be used for a hospital patient before expiration. A replacement unit will then enter service with the District.

The partnership helps ensure that this lifesaving resource remains available to EMS patients while minimizing the potential for donated blood to go unused.

Every Unit Begins With a Donor
Based on current call volume and patient needs, Reeves County ESD No. 2 estimates its paramedics may administer approximately one unit of whole blood each month. Trauma consistently remains among the District's leading call types.

The District also hopes the launch of the program brings attention to an essential part of making prehospital whole blood possible: blood donors.

Every unit placed aboard the Battalion Chief unit begins with someone choosing to donate. Reeves County ESD No. 2 encourages eligible residents to support local blood drives and help maintain the blood supply needed by hospitals and emergency medical services. The District will share information about upcoming blood donation opportunities as they become available. “Our community has continually supported our mission to improve emergency services in Reeves County, and we want them to know that we are continually working to bring the highest level of care possible to their emergency,” Authement said. “This program will save lives. We are thankful for the people who donate blood, the organizations that made this program possible and the community that continues to support our District.”

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08/28/2026

25 years later, we still remember.

Join the Reeves County and Pecos community, first responders, and law enforcement as we come together to honor the lives lost, remember the heroes who answered the call, and reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and unity of September 11, 2001.

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
📍 Veterans Memorial Park
⏰ Ceremony begins at 9:11 AM | Please arrive by 9:00 AM

The ceremony will feature a Joint Honor Guard, flag raising, bell ceremony, 21-gun salute, National Anthem by Courtney Navarattee, and Taps by Erika Martinez of the Pecos High School Band. A special flag presentation will also feature cranes provided by Allison Crane.

ROAD CLOSURE:
The Y section of Kerr Street and Easterbrook Streetwill be closed during the ceremony. Please plan accordingly.

Let us come together as one community to honor the past, remember those we lost, and carry their memory forward. 🇺🇸

08/24/2026

One week remaining before this job posting closes. Apply today at RCESD.ORG.

We're hiring an EMS Instructor!

Help shape the next generation of EMS professionals while training both Reeves County ESD personnel and students in our High School EMT Program.

This full-time position offers a Monday–Thursday schedule, a pay scale of $100,000–$130,477, and the opportunity to teach in a state-of-the-art training environment featuring a 100-seat classroom, high-fidelity simulation lab, and cadaver lab.

Minimum Qualifications: Texas Paramedic, Texas EMS Instructor, and AHA BLS & ACLS.

Deadline to apply is August 31st at 4 PM.

Apply today at RCESD.ORG.

Interviews will be conducted September 8–17.

08/23/2026

Six members of Reeves County ESD are headed to the Oklahoma Swiftwater Rescue Conference & Competition!

Our members will spend the week training alongside swiftwater rescue teams from across the world, learning new techniques, sharpening their skills, and putting those skills to the test during the competition.

Training opportunities like this help us continue building our swiftwater rescue capabilities and bring valuable knowledge and experience back home to better serve Reeves County and the surrounding region.

We wish our members safe travels and good luck in the competition!

08/21/2026

It's Firefighter Friday!!

Allow us to introduce you to Engineer Steven Bedell who is currently assigned to Station 2 (Orla) on B-Shift.

After 29 years in the fire service, Engineer Steven Bedell had already earned the right to hang up his helmet. He retired, but it didn't last long.

Engineer Bedell missed the fire service. He missed helping people, working alongside a crew, and being challenged to solve problems when the stakes were high. So, two years ago, he came out of retirement and joined Reeves County Emergency Services District No. 1.

For Engineer Bedell, returning to the fire service came down to something pretty simple: He missed having the opportunity to make a difference.

Born and raised in Big Spring, Texas, Engineer Bedell entered the fire service at 23 years old.

Engineer Bedell describes firefighting as “the best job in the world.” It’s a career where no two days are the same, the work is rewarding, and friendships are formed that will last a lifetime. Throughout his career, Engineer Bedell says his Christian faith and values have been his foundation and have helped carry him through the difficult days.

His purpose after all these years remains the same: Do everything possible to make someone’s worst day a little better.

Beyond the uniform, Engineer Bedell is a husband, dad and proud grandfather. He and his wife, Tina, have been married for 26 years and have two daughters and six grandchildren. On his days off, family time is what he enjoys most. Over the years, his hobbies have included riding motorcycles, dirt bikes and even racing jet skis with his dad. These days, he's changed from high-speed sports to homesteading.

If Engineer Bedell really wants to impress the crew at the station, he breaks out his poblano chicken, a recipe passed down from one of his former lieutenants.

And once the station work is done, the trucks are ready and there’s some downtime between calls? Steven’s movie pick is an easy one: Black Hawk Down.

After 31 years, Engineer Bedell reason for putting on the uniform hasn’t changed much: Serve others, face the challenge, and do your best to make a difference when someone needs you most.

08/19/2026

It's Who's Who Wednesday!

Today, we’re stepping into the office to recognize someone who spends her days taking care of the people who take care of our communities.

Meet Niomi DeAnda, Human Resources Manager for Reeves County Emergency Services District Nos. 1 & 2.

Mrs. DeAnda has been with the Districts for 5½ years, beginning her career as an Administrative Specialist before moving into Human Resources in 2024. For Mr.s. DeAnda, HR is all about the employee.

“My mission is to always support, assist, and do what is fair for the employee.”

From onboarding a brand-new employee to helping someone prepare for retirement, and everything in between, she is there throughout their career.

A lifelong Pecos resident, Mrs. DeAnda has been married to her husband, Rudy, for 28 years. They have two sons, Rudy Jr. and Nathan, a soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Nydeline, two grandchildren, Jayden and Raina, and two dogs, Luna and Leo.

When she’s away from work, there’s a good chance you’ll find her in her flower garden or cooking for her family. Her nieces and nephews are especially fond of her famous spaghetti, and she even shared the secret: toss the noodles in butter after cooking them. Apparently, that’s what keeps everyone coming back!

Her soundtrack? 80s and 90s Tejano. Her movie? Grease, which she watched nearly every night as a kid and still calls it “the best movie ever!”

Give her a free weekend and she’s headed to the lake for some quiet time while Rudy fishes. Give her a little more time, and she’s trading West Texas for an island with crystal-clear water.

And for anyone considering a career in HR, Niomi says to expect the unexpected.

“Different things happen every day. You have to keep learning and growing.”

Please join us in recognizing Mrs. DeAnda and thanking her for the work she does every day to support the employees of Reeves County Emergency Services District Nos. 1 & 2!

08/18/2026

The Pecos Eagles are ready to make some noise this school year!

The Pecos Eagle Band invited our firefighters over to help celebrate the end of Summer Band and kick off the new school year with a good old-fashioned spray-down!

A great band sets the tempo, brings the energy, and gets everyone rocking, and judging by this group, the Eagles are ready for an awesome year!

Thanks to the Pecos Eagle Band for letting us join in the fun. We wish all of our Pecos Eagles a safe, successful, and rockin’ school year!

08/17/2026

It's Medic Monday!!!

On this Medic Monday we are introducing you to Luis Alvarado, EMT assigned to B-Shift.

Six months into his EMS career, EMT Alvarado is just getting started, and if you ask him about his new profession, his answer is pretty simple: “It’s the best job!”

EMT Alvarado joined Reeves County ESD No. 2 through our EMS Cadet Academy after spending the previous couple of years volunteering with a local fire department. Friends who worked for the ESD encouraged him to apply for the EMS Cadet position. He made it through the competitive hiring process, was selected for the academy, and ultimately earned his EMT certification.

EMT Alvarado describes the academy as a "roller coaster of learning," a lot of information, plenty of fun with his fellow cadets, and a group learning how to face challenges together. He credits his instructors, Chief Davis and Captain Johnson, with doing much more than preparing the cadets to pass a test.

“They prepared us to meet the toughest challenges we would face working as EMTs.”

For someone considering following the same path, EMT Alvarado says you have to be willing to adapt to challenges and be prepared to help people their worse days.

Born in Veracruz, Mexico, EMT Alvarado moved to Austin, Texas, when he was five years old and has called El Paso, Texas home for the past four years. He and his wife, Dora, have been married for four years and have two Chiweenies, Joey and Phoebe. And yes, there’s a story behind those names, they’re named after characters from one of their favorite shows, Friends.

Two pieces of advice have stuck with EMT Alvarado: Take life one day at a time because tomorrow isn’t written yet, and enjoy the little things without allowing life’s stressors to ruin your day.

Speaking of the little things, EMT Alvarado has a definite answer when his sweet tooth kicks in: M&M Minis.

He’s also already taken his turn cooking at the station. One of his meals was spaghetti and meatballs with Texas toast and a salad. Luis gives his performance a confident 10/10.

His crew? He figures they’d probably knock it down to an 8/10 after discovering the meatballs were frozen.

08/13/2026

🔥 TIFMAS DEPLOYMENT UPDATE 🔥

At the request of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), Reeves County Emergency Services District No. 1 deployed Engineer Tyler Raynes on August 5.

Tyler is serving as a Strike Team Leader Trainee assigned to Strike Team 186. Since its deployment, the team has maintained an active operational role, responding to numerous wildfires across North Central Texas, including:

• Sleepy Fire — Palo Pinto County
• Blue Jay Fire — Archer County
• Bufford Fire — Stephens County

TIFMAS allows Texas fire departments to mobilize qualified personnel and resources to assist communities during major emergencies. These deployments strengthen statewide response capabilities while providing valuable experience that benefits our personnel and the communities we serve at home.

We are proud of Tyler’s commitment, professionalism, and willingness to serve wherever he is needed. Please join us in thanking him and all members of Strike Team 186 for their continued service.

08/11/2026

A huge shout out to our friends at AeroCare 10 for allowing our fire cadets to stop by their base and get some hands on training.