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Pharr EMS credits prehospital whole-blood transfusion with saving a patient; three staff honored
Summary
Pharr EMS reported using a newly implemented prehospital whole-blood program on Dec. 29, 2024; paramedic Vanessa Guerrilla, advanced EMT Elsa Castillo and shift captain Andrew Gonzalez received clinical excellence commendations for their roles.
Daniel Ramirez, chief of Pharr EMS, said the department used a newly implemented prehospital whole-blood transfusion on Dec. 29, 2024, that stabilized a patient who arrived with severe bleeding and a blood pressure of 81/40.
“The prompt and life‑saving treatment worked as the patient was alert and left with a blood pressure of 123 over 61 at a local hospital,” Daniel Ramirez said while presenting clinical excellence commendations to Paramedic Vanessa Guerrilla, Advanced EMT Elsa Castillo and Shift Captain Andrew Gonzalez.
Ramirez said the whole-blood program had been in place fewer than 30 days when the crew performed the transfusion. He told the commission the intervention made “a difference in this patient's life” and thanked the mayor and city commission for approving the program.
Yuri Gonzalez, director of city communications, said Pharr will be among the first city-based services in the Rio Grande Valley to carry whole blood. “Currently, there's two providers in the Rio Grande Valley that carry whole blood. We're gonna be the first city that carry whole blood,” Wonsalas said.
The commission also heard that Pharr EMS has added point-of-care ultrasound devices — Butterfly IQ units — to every ambulance, which staff said can help detect internal bleeding and fetal heart activity at the scene. Ramirez said the department has started receiving new Stryker stretchers and stair chairs and is awaiting new cardiac monitors described as “LP 30 fives.”
Commissioners asked for clarification about blood type and compatibility after an exchange about whether the field supply was O positive or O negative. Ramirez said the system uses low‑titer O negative units so they can be administered broadly when necessary.
The chief also emphasized the program will be supported with training and quality review; the commission requested that EMS retain recordings and documentation for quality purposes.
The commission publicly recognized Guerrilla, Castillo and Gonzalez during the meeting and accepted the department's update on equipment and the whole‑blood initiative.
