(Photo by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO COUNTY – After a tragic accident in Greene, a movement to allow blood products to be used on state medical flights has garnered more than 11,000 petition signatures and backing from New York State officials.

New York State Senator Fred Akshar is one of the individuals who supports the change, and he said while legislators work to get changes signed into law, they hope the public will continue signing the petition.

“As many know, local nurse and farmer Travis Flanagan was involved in a tragic farm accident on March 13th,” said Senator Akshar. “Travis was pulled into an active machine and lost both of his legs from the knee down.”

“Thanks to the heroic efforts of several individuals and first responders, Travis survived.”

Akshar said emergency medical providers were called to the scene and a Pennsylvania medical flight crew, Guthrie Air was able to quickly infuse Travis with a supply of blood they had on board during transport. He said this very well may have been the difference between life and death.

“But New York State regulations currently make it extremely difficult for air ambulance services to transfuse and carry blood products while transporting a patient to an area hospital,” said Akshar. “If a local New York-based flight crew had responded to the scene, it’s horrifying for his young family to think what that would have meant for Travis’ prognosis.”