CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. - UPMC Passavant is one of the first organizations in the region that is specially trained and equipped to carry blood on their advanced response unit (ARU) and administer blood in the field. Based at UPMC Passavant-Cranberry, the ARU is staffed with expert paramedics and pre-hospital nurses to respond to emergencies in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny counties and provides 24/7 coverage to assist local emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.
"The ARU now carries a precious life-saving item: blood," said Alan Martino, manager, UPMC Passavant, prehospital services and emergency preparedness. "In addition to other advanced life support equipment and expert staff, we now carry two units of blood that can be administered before arriving at a hospital, helping to save even more lives."
"Our ability to administer blood before a patient arrives at the hospital is increasing access to rapid, life-saving care. This is especially important for some of our more rural communities that are a greater distance from the nearest hospital or trauma center. This will increase survivability of people suffering significant trauma and medical emergencies," said Martino.
The UPMC Passavant ARU has been in service since 2021 and has progressed with staffing and equipment such as a Hamilton ventilator and LUCAS CPR device. It can respond to a scene or meet an EMS team to provide personnel and equipment.
"We are providing our paramedics and, more importantly, our patients with a well known, life-sustaining tool," said Alan Shapiro, M.D., EMS medical director, UPMC Passavant. "Delivering blood to patients prior to arrival at the hospital improves outcomes and increases survival rates from trauma and hemorrhage."
Studies have shown that patients in life-threatening bleeding situations have the best possibility of survival when they are administered blood. The sooner the administration, the better the chance for survival. In many parts of the country and the state, carrying blood on ground ambulances is still a novel development.
In 2023, a legislative change was made by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS indicating Pennsylvania Statewide Advanced Life Support Protocols now allow for specially trained paramedics to administer blood in the field, a procedure previously reserved for EMS physicians and air ambulance crews. Prior to this change, the only treatment available to paramedics in the field for advanced life support calls was administering intravenous normal saline. For patients who are bleeding from traumatic injuries or complex medical conditions, administration of Type O blood is lifesaving.
"At UPMC, when we see a need in the community, we look to see how we can make a difference," said Dr. Shapiro. "We are grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference for people before they get inside a hospital."
"This is an exciting time for EMS as we are progressing as a profession," said Martino. "When the Pennsylvania Department of Health's EMS division added blood administration to our scope of practice, we jumped at the chance to provide this life-saving commodity to our toolbox. The ARU, commonly referred to as "Squad 98," is perfectly poised to provide the blood quickly, to southern Butler, northern Allegheny and eastern Beaver Counties and beyond if needed."
