Frisco firefighters from Station 7 used a whole-blood transfusion on scene to stabilize a pregnant woman in severe shock on Nov. 2, keeping her alive long enough to reach the hospital, where she later delivered a healthy baby. The department said the tightly coordinated response, from street to hospital room, may have saved “not one but potentially two lives.” Frisco crews credited their training, medical oversight, and access to whole blood for the outcome, per the Frisco Fire Department.
Paramedics Stabilized Mom With Whole Blood
According to the Frisco Fire Department’s Facebook post, crews from Station 7 responded to a patient with pregnancy complications who showed clear signs of severe shock. On scene, they provided life-saving care that included a whole blood transfusion in the field, then transported her to Texas Health Hospital Frisco. The department identified the patient as Upasna Pathan and said hospital staff later confirmed the birth of a healthy baby. The post notes that crews “celebrated the outcome with partners at Texas Health and the family.”
Program Backed By Medical Director
Frisco’s authority to carry whole blood on ambulances comes out of years of local experimentation and hospital partnerships overseen by EMS medical director Dr. Mark Gamber. The program’s early history, including one of its first field uses after a 2018 construction-site amputation, is described by The Dallas Morning News. Dr. Gamber has also spoken publicly on medical podcasts about Frisco medics carrying whole blood since late 2019. The department says that accumulated experience helped crews put the protocol to work in this obstetric shock call.
Why Field Transfusions Matter
Having whole blood on board lets paramedics replace lost volume right away, which can be critical in major trauma and certain medical emergencies, including pregnancy-related hemorrhage. Other North Texas agencies have rolled out similar programs in recent years, and reporting has pointed to both potential survival gains and the logistical hurdles of supply, storage and training. Regional coverage and articles such as Hoodline’s report on how first responders are now equipped with whole blood highlight the broader trend and the partnerships required among fire departments, hospitals and blood centers…