ARLINGTON – Less than 48 hours after launching an innovative partnership to provide blood to first responders, Arlington emergency personnel administered their first unit of blood in the field, saving the life of a new mother suffering from severe postpartum hemorrhage.
The collaboration between Medical City Arlington, American Medical Response (AMR), and the Arlington Fire Department (AFD) equips select emergency vehicles with whole blood, red blood cells, and plasma. The program allows trained personnel to begin life-saving transfusions within minutes of arriving on the scene.
AMR responded to a 911 call for a 24-year-old woman recently discharged after giving birth. She was found with dangerously low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and altered mental status—signs of potentially life-threatening blood loss. Medics administered blood en route to Medical City Arlington, where she received additional transfusions and underwent emergency surgery. She has since fully recovered at home.
“This initiative is a game-changer for emergency responders in the field,” said Bradley Keegan, MD, City of Arlington medical director and Medical City Arlington emergency medicine physician. “Our EMS partners and emergency room staff saved the first patient using prehospital whole blood, proving the power of collaboration between hospitals and EMS.”
Uncontrolled bleeding remains a leading cause of preventable death after trauma or childbirth. Studies from the American College of Surgeons indicate that mortality risk can be reduced by up to 270% when whole blood is administered instead of component therapy.
Medical City Arlington CEO Sharn Barbarin said, “We’re honored to advance healthcare through this partnership with AMR and the Arlington Fire Department. Ensuring effective use of blood products will save lives, especially as Arlington prepares for high-volume events like the Grand Prix and FIFA World Cup next year.”
The program ensures proper storage, tracking, and distribution of blood products, allowing first responders to deliver critical care quickly while safeguarding valuable resources.
