TowerDIRECT ambulances, Tower Health’s nonprofit company, are the first in Pennsylvania to carry blood and supplies to be able to administer life-saving blood transfusions to patients en route to hospitals, writes Dave Mekeel for The Daily Local News.

50 TowerDIRECT paramedics are now trained in the Phoenixville and Reading areas where Tower Health still has hospitals, and can respond to 9-1-1 regional calls.

Each morning, two packets of type O blood are loaded into the ambulances via cooler and are exchanged at partner blood banks every 24 hours. There are multiple safety checks in place to ensure all blood is kept fresh and temperature-regulated.

“This is really, truly an advancement in EMS and an advancement for TowerDIRECT,” said Dr. Brian Lahmann, chair of Reading Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “And it’s a big benefit for the community.”

Paramedics are said to be thrilled to be involved in this medical advancement because prior, EMS responders couldn’t do blood transfusions and it was left up to hospital staff. Now, this makes a huge difference in saving lives.

“Everybody is really excited to have this ability to increase the benefit to our patients and to the community,” said Tim Jordan, captain of TowerDIRECT’s paramedics team.

Read more about TowerDIRECT ambulances having blood onboard for transfusions in The Daily Local News.

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