TAMPA, Fla. — Whole blood could soon arrive at some Hillsborough County trauma scenes by drone, allowing paramedics to begin transfusions before an ambulance reaches the hospital.
Tampa General Hospital and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue announced plans to launch what the hospital describes as the nation’s first EMS-driven drone program for prehospital whole blood delivery.
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The two-drone system is expected to cover about 70 square miles and deliver blood in under three minutes on average, according to Tampa General. The program is scheduled to begin operating in October, pending approval from the Hillsborough County Commission.
When a 911 call involves suspected severe blood loss, dispatchers will send responders to the scene while crews request a drone carrying whole blood. Paramedics can begin a transfusion at the scene if the patient meets the program’s clinical criteria.
“Our crews are often first at the scene of an accident. This program puts an essential, lifesaving resource directly in our hands at the scene, giving our first responders more tools to improve the chances of survival of a patient in crisis,” Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Division Chief Todd Carnell said.
Program will initially operate from two fire stations
The drones will be based at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Stations 9 and 37, which serve areas with high numbers of penetrating trauma and hemorrhagic injuries, according to Tampa General.
Station 9 serves the Faulkenburg and Sabal Park area, while Station 37 is in Riverview. Each location will have a ground-control hub that stores and deploys the drone.
Responders will be able to request a delivery through a mobile device. Remote pilots will oversee flights, while weather, airspace and system conditions will be checked before a drone is deployed.
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The drones and related support will be supplied by Archer First Response Systems. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue will operate the program and retain operational control.
Tampa General said the program could expand to additional locations after officials review data from the initial service area.
Whole blood moves closer to the scene
The drone program is intended to give crews access to blood without requiring every unit to carry it. Tampa General said the aircraft will transport the temperature-sensitive product in a controlled container.
“In traumas with hemorrhaging, every minute matters,” said Dr. Jason Wilson, chief of emergency medicine at Tampa General Hospital and founding chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “Faster access to whole blood is a major predictor of a patient’s likelihood of survival.”
The project also includes OneBlood, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services.
The Hillsborough County Commission is scheduled to consider the program Sept. 2. If approved, the technology is expected to come online in October.
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