Drones Deliver Whole Blood to Trauma Sites for Emergency Medical Response
Hillsborough County Launches Drone Blood Delivery Program for First Responders
Archer First Response Systems (ArcherFRS) is implementing a drone program aimed at delivering whole blood directly to emergency scenes in Hillsborough County, Florida. This initiative involves collaboration between Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR), Tampa General Hospital (TGH), OneBlood, the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine, and the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services.
The program is noted as the first EMS-driven pre-hospital whole blood drone delivery initiative in the United States. ArcherFRS will operate from HCFR Station 9 in the Faulkenburg/Sabal Park area and Station 37 in Riverview, covering an initial service area of approximately 70 square miles. The goal is to deliver whole blood to severe hemorrhagic trauma scenes in under three minutes on average.
Managing Blood Delivery Logistics
Delivering whole blood necessitates meticulous handling and temperature control. The drone operations will also involve weather and airspace checks, remote pilot oversight, regulatory approvals, system monitoring, and ensuring aircraft readiness.
ArcherFRS oversees these operations as a managed service, installing and maintaining Ground Control Hubs at participating stations. The company provides 24/7 monitoring, piloting support, airspace checks, weather verification, and system health checks.
Paramedics will be able to request blood deliveries via a mobile device while attending to emergencies, with HCFR maintaining operational control and Certificate of Waiver authority. This model enables fire and EMS agencies to utilize drone delivery without the need to establish a separate department or hire additional staff.
Collaboration Between Hospitals and Emergency Services
This initiative is part of the ArcherFRS Champion Hospital Partner Program, which aims to unite hospitals and emergency response agencies in deploying pre-hospital medical technology.
Michele Moran, Senior Vice President for Emergency Services at Tampa General Hospital, emphasized the importance of strong partnerships, stating, “When we work together this way, we move critical interventions closer to the patient and give first responders the tools they need to improve outcomes long before the hospital doors.”
Chief Todd Carnell of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue noted that ArcherFRS has provided a significant capability to their agency, enhancing service delivery without the need for a new department.
Expanding the Role of Drones in Emergency Medicine
The program builds on previous work by ArcherFRS with Manatee County EMS and Tampa General Hospital, which involved the 911-integrated drone delivery of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and Narcan. This initiative is recognized as the first of its kind in the United States.
ArcherFRS drones can also transport EpiPens and other emergency medical supplies, with a payload capacity of approximately 6.5 to 7 pounds. Each hub can cover around 35 to 50 square miles under suitable conditions.
The Hillsborough County program represents a significant advancement in the use of drones in emergency medicine, transitioning from delivering standard medical supplies to transporting temperature-sensitive whole blood. If successful, this model could enable first responders to provide critical trauma resources to patients before they arrive at a hospital.