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Hillsborough County, FL - Hillsborough County emergency crews will soon use drones to deliver whole blood directly to patients experiencing life-threatening blood loss.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue demonstrated the system Monday ahead of live operations expected to begin in October. County and hospital officials describe it as the nation’s first emergency medical services-operated drone program dedicated to delivering whole blood to emergency scenes.
A 911 dispatcher or paramedic will be able to request a unit of temperature-controlled blood for a patient. The drone will transport it to the scene, allowing qualified paramedics to begin a transfusion before the patient reaches a hospital.
Officials expect average delivery times of less than three minutes. Most flights should take no more than approximately three and a half minutes, while deliveries to the outer edge of the service areas could require up to five minutes.
The one-year pilot program will operate from Fire Station 9 in Sabal Park and Fire Station 37 in Riverview. Each location will cover about 35 square miles, creating a combined service area of 70 square miles.
The drones could be requested for patients suffering severe blood loss after traffic crashes, shootings, stabbings or other traumatic injuries. The service may also assist patients experiencing postpartum hemorrhaging or serious medical emergencies.
Archer First Response Systems will provide the aircraft, monitoring, maintenance and piloting support. Other participating organizations include Tampa General Hospital, OneBlood, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services.
County commissioners approved the program in September. Officials will evaluate its results before considering expanded coverage throughout Hillsborough County.