Narberth Ambulance Advances Pre-Hospital Care with Whole Blood Capability

Narberth Ambulance has officially launched a pre-hospital whole blood program in partnership with the Blood Bank of Delmarva, bringing life-saving care directly to patients before they reach the hospital.

Whole blood transfusion on our ambulances allows our paramedics to support a patient's critical condition in both traumatic injuries like high-impact vehicle collisions and falls, along with medical emergencies related to childbirth and significant gastrointestinal hemorrhages.

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"Critical treatment can now begin in the patient's driveway," Narberth Ambulance Deputy Chief Pat Glynn said. "Pre-hospital whole blood buys us vital minutes, stabilizing patients before they even reach the hospital doors."

Since implementing the program, three blood administrations have taken place, each improving patients' vital signs and resulting in more stable patients upon arrival at the hospital.

"We received the details of an elderly man who had been struck by a vehicle," said Paramedic Kat Shchepetova. "I saw Deputy Chief Glynn grab the blood and knew we had to hustle."

Schepetova added, "While many hospitals have lengthy protocols, equipping paramedics with whole blood enables rapid, on-scene transfusions when seconds matter most."

The victim survived the trauma. The addition of pre-hospital whole blood is expected to significantly improve patient outcomes and increase trauma survival rates across Narberth Ambulance's service area.

"Whole blood benefits diverse populations and many in our community, from birth complications to emergencies in nursing homes," said Schepetova.

Adding whole blood to the medics' toolbox allows them to provide their patients with more appropriate treatment and stabilization.

"We are incredibly grateful to our medical team and our Medical Director, Dr. James Rowley, for making this milestone possible," said Executive Director Al Davey. "Saving lives is what we do, and this capability allows us to save even more."

How to Get Involved

Community members can support the program by donating at Narberth Ambulance's upcoming community blood drive on October 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The blood drive will take place at 101 Sibley Ave, Ardmore, PA 19003. Register here.

About Narberth Ambulance

Since 1944, Narberth Ambulance, a non-profit organization 501(c)(3), has earned a stellar reputation for providing 24/7/365 pre-hospital emergency medical services and medical transportation to more than 160,000 residents, businesses and visitors. Narberth Ambulance serves the municipalities of Lower Merion, Narberth, Haverford, Conshohocken, West Conshohocken, Lansdowne and Ridley, and responded to over 20,000 calls last year.