Patients in Montgomery County can now receive blood transfusions before they reach the hospital as Upper Merion Township EMS rolls out new technology in its ambulances. Recent changes to Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines allow trained paramedics to give blood transfusions in the field. The practice had previously been reserved for air ambulances and specialized physician vehicles. Upper Merion Township rolled out its blood transfusion program this summer, joining what officials say remains a relatively small group of ambulance companies able to provide blood products. The township has invested thousands of dollars in the equipment needed for the program. “We invested $10,000 to $15,000 just in the equipment,” Upper Merion Township Fire EMS Chief James Johnson said. The National Institute of Health says the leading cause of death for trauma patients is blood loss. While most EMS companies in the state can provide fluids such as saline, patients have typically had to wait until arriving at a hospital to receive a blood transfusion. Newer cooler technology allows Upper Merion EMS to keep blood at the appropriate temperature while carrying it in an ambulance. “The technologies that are needed to have pre-hospital blood transfusions are relatively new. We have to have very sophisticated coolers, temperature tracking technologies and a process that allows us to keep the blood in our stewardship for a period of time before returning it to the hospital,” Upper Merion EMS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alvin Wang said. A hospital partner is also a key part of the program. Upper Merion is working with Jefferson Einstein Montgomery, whose blood bank supplies the ambulance service. “A unit of whole blood is good for about 21 days once its collected from a donor,” Wang explained. “After about 14 days, we return the blood to the blood bank at Jefferson Einstein Montgomery where they have an additional seven days or so to use the blood.” Upper Merion also held a blood drive this week to help stock the blood bank amid recent blood shortages. Officials say the transfusions can be used for patients experiencing a range of medical emergencies, including car crashes, gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia, as well as expectant mothers who deliver before reaching a hospital. The township’s program is funded through a combination of grant and taxpayer money, and EMTs who provide the service receive special training. While it remains rare for EMS units to carry blood, Upper Merion officials say the movement is growing, with towns and hospitals working to bring the technology to more parts of the state. The concept itself is not new. The military has used the practice for years and medical experts say it has been shown to improve survival rates for trauma patients. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less