Prehospital Blood Transfusion Program allows first responders to administer blood transfusions directly at the scene of an emergency (Photo PFD)
In a move designed to save lives during the most critical moments of a medical emergency, the Pasadena Fire Department has announced a new partnership with Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai.
By News Desk
The collaboration integrates Pasadena into LA-DROP (Los Angeles Prehospital Blood Transfusion Program), a nationally recognized initiative that allows first responders to administer blood transfusions directly at the scene of an emergency.
For patients suffering from severe blood loss, the minutes spent traveling to a hospital can be the difference between life and death. This expansion brings advanced capabilities to Pasadena, enabling paramedics to treat life-threatening hemorrhage immediately. To facilitate this, the Pasadena Fire Department will carry low-titer O-positive whole blood on two Battalion Chief vehicles, utilizing specialized temperature-monitored coolers and rapid infusion systems.
“Severe bleeding remains one of the leading causes of preventable death following traumatic injury,” said Chad Augustin, Chief of Pasadena Fire Department. “By bringing blood directly to patients in the field, our firefighter paramedics can begin critical treatment sooner and improve outcomes for people experiencing life-threatening emergencies.”
The program is not limited to trauma victims; it will also support patients experiencing other forms of severe hemorrhage, including women suffering from postpartum hemorrhage. Dr. John M. Corman, president and chief clinical officer of Huntington Health, noted that expanding this capability ensures the delivery of the right treatment at the right time, even before a patient reaches the emergency department.
The initiative is supported by Huntington Health’s existing agreement with the Houchin Community Blood Bank. Launched in 2025 as California’s first coordinated program of its kind, LA-DROP has already seen participating agencies administer over 70 transfusions and manage more than 350 units of blood.
A key priority of the program is responsible stewardship. To ensure no donation goes to waste, any blood not used by the Fire Department within a specific timeframe will be transferred back to Huntington Health for use by other critically ill patients. The program currently maintains a blood discard rate of less than 1%.
The Pasadena Fire Department emphasized that patient autonomy remains a priority. Patients retain the right to decline blood products based on medical, personal, or religious preferences, and all care will follow established emergency protocols and advanced directives.
For more information about the LA-DROP program, visit this link.
Officials at the press conference (Photo – City of Pasadena)
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