BOCA RATON, FL — A critically injured patient in Boca Raton no longer has to wait until the hospital for the first opportunity to receive whole blood.
Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services says its firefighter-paramedics are now carrying whole blood in the field, giving first responders another tool to treat trauma patients and certain critically ill patients before they arrive at the hospital.
According to the city, the program is intended for patients experiencing severe blood loss, including traumatic injuries from vehicle crashes, as well as certain medical emergencies such as gastrointestinal bleeding.
The blood is carried on a specially equipped Fire Rescue EMS supervisor vehicle that can be dispatched anywhere within Boca Raton city limits, according to the city.
That means the treatment is not tied to one station or one ambulance. The EMS supervisor vehicle can respond where it is needed, while Fire Rescue personnel bring equipment to warm and administer the blood at the patient’s side.
The city said the blood is stored in a temperature-controlled cooler and monitored through a digital tracking system. The system is used to track safety and accountability from the time the blood is received until it is used in patient care.
All Boca Raton firefighters are certified paramedics, according to the city. Fire Rescue personnel also received specialized training on the storage, warming, handling, and administration of whole blood.
“Administering blood in pre-hospital environments is a critical intervention that can significantly improve patient outcomes,” Fire Chief John Treanor said in the city announcement. “Boca Raton Fire Rescue is now equipped to perform this vital procedure, enhancing our service delivery to those we serve.”
The city said only an estimated one to two percent of emergency ground transport units nationwide currently carry whole blood, placing Boca Raton Fire Rescue among a limited group of agencies using the treatment in prehospital emergency medicine.
For residents, the change matters most in the narrow window between a critical injury or illness and hospital arrival. In those cases, Boca Raton Fire Rescue says whole blood allows treatment to begin sooner, while the patient is still in the field.
Additional information is available through the Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services webpage.
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