Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services has equipped its firefighter-paramedics with whole blood, allowing them to start lifesaving treatment on scene before patients reach the hospital. The first known use of the new capability involved Jo Thomas, who was critically injured in a crash between a motorcycle and a vehicle.
Thomas said he was thrown from the bike and landed against a crosswalk pole about 20 to 30 feet away. Paramedic Kacper Palej assessed him at the scene and determined he needed whole blood.
“Whole blood has been known to save lives,” Palej said. “It made a world of difference for Jo.”
Thomas and the crew were recognized Wednesday morning at a ceremony. Driver-engineer Steven Wright said the team rarely gets to follow up on patients, so seeing Thomas walk into the station was a highlight.
Officials said whole blood treats patients with severe blood loss from traumatic injuries. Candace Pineda, trauma program manager at Delray Medical Center, said early treatment can improve outcomes and helped keep Thomas’s heart strong on the way to the trauma center.
Pineda also described a blood-exchange program among Delray Medical Center, Boca Raton Fire Rescue and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Agencies give the hospital units nearing expiration, typically within five to seven days, and receive fresh units to carry on their trucks. The arrangement keeps blood from being wasted, she said.
