The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce an exciting “win” for the Office and the community living in and around the Pikes Peak region.
On Friday, August 1st, a team comprised of Deputies Jacobson, Witherite, Nelson, and Aguilar competed in the inaugural UCHealth Sporting Clays Invitational, placing first among first responder teams and second overall at Kiowa Creek Sporting Club in Bennett, Colorado.
Hosted by UCHealth Memorial Health System Foundation & Lonnie Cramer, President & CEO of UCHealth Southern Colorado, the event brought together teams from across the region (including the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Springs Fire Department, and American Medical Response) for a day of friendly competition, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to advancing emergency medical care in our community.
Importantly, proceeds from the Invitational directly support UCHealth’s groundbreaking Whole Blood Resuscitation Program, which launched in May 2024 in the Pikes Peak region.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our team—not only for taking home first place among first responder teams in the inaugural UCHealth Sporting Clays Invitational, but for the awareness they’ve helped raise around such an important cause,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “Their participation supports the life-saving whole blood resuscitation program, which directly impacts lives right here in El Paso County. I want to extend my sincere thanks to Lonnie Cramer and UCHealth for the invitation and for their leadership in bringing this initiative forward. We’re already looking forward to returning next year, defending our title, and adding something uniquely representative of EPSO to the trophy.”
Hemorrhagic shock—severe blood loss—is the leading cause of death for children and adults under 46 in the United States. In Colorado Springs, it’s estimated every 48 hours, one resident dies from blood loss before reaching a hospital.
The event raised over $70,000 for the program, which supports El Paso and Teller Counties.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sheriff Roybal and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office team for joining us at the inaugural UCHealth Sporting Clays Invitational,” said Lonnie Cramer, President & CEO of UCHealth Southern Colorado. “Their participation brought a great spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie, and most importantly, helped shine a spotlight on the critical importance of expanding whole blood resuscitation in the field. This program will save lives and having partners like Sheriff Roybal and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office by our side makes all the difference.”
Whole blood transfusion in the field increases survival by 40%. Thanks to a partnership between UCHealth, the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), Ute Pass Regional Health Services District, and the Plains to Peaks RETAC, two ground ambulances – one in El Paso County and one in Teller County are now equipped to administer whole blood in the pre-hospital setting.
While the military has used whole blood since World War I, civilian field transfusions only began in 2018 with the San Antonio (Texas) Fire Department. Colorado Springs was the first city in the State of Colorado to offer Whole Blood Resuscitation.
With this flagship program, UCHealth and the community members who have contributed to funding the program are helping to lay the foundation for statewide adoption by 2030.
