Hillsborough County program aims to deliver blood to first responders in under three minutes
Archer First Response Systems (ArcherFRS) is supporting a drone program designed to deliver whole blood directly to emergency scenes in Hillsborough County, Florida.
The initiative brings together Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR), Tampa General Hospital (TGH), OneBlood, the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine, and the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services. ArcherFRS describes it as the first EMS-driven pre-hospital whole blood drone delivery program in the United States.
ArcherFRS systems will operate from HCFR Station 9 in the Faulkenburg/Sabal Park area and Station 37 in Riverview. The initial service area covers about 70 square miles. The program aims to deliver whole blood to severe hemorrhagic trauma scenes in under three minutes on average.
Managing the Complexity of Blood Delivery
Whole blood requires careful handling and temperature control. Drone operations also require weather and airspace checks, remote pilot oversight, regulatory approvals, system monitoring, and aircraft readiness.
ArcherFRS manages these functions as a service. The company installs and maintains Ground Control Hubs at participating stations. It also provides 24/7 monitoring, piloting support, airspace checks, weather verification, and system health checks.
Paramedics can request a delivery from a mobile device while responding to an emergency. HCFR retains operational control and Certificate of Waiver authority.
The model allows fire and EMS agencies to use drone delivery without creating a separate department or adding dedicated staff.
“Whole blood at the scene in under three minutes changes the equation for hemorrhagic trauma,” said Gordon Folkes III, Founder and CEO of ArcherFRS. “What makes this possible for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is not just the aircraft — it is a fully managed system designed so agencies can focus on patients while we handle the complexity of keeping the capability ready, safe, and integrated. Partnering with Tampa General through our Champion Hospital program is how we help communities access these tools.”
Hospital and EMS Partnership
The initiative is part of the ArcherFRS Champion Hospital Partner Program, which brings hospitals and emergency response agencies together to deploy pre-hospital medical technology.
“Strong partnerships and tight alignment between hospitals, fire rescue, and technology partners create a more robust continuum of care,” said Michele Moran, Senior Vice President for Emergency Services at Tampa General Hospital. “When we work together this way, we move critical interventions closer to the patient and give first responders the tools they need to improve outcomes long before the hospital doors.”
“ArcherFRS has made a powerful capability easily available to our agency and puts a true force multiplier in the hands of our crews without requiring us to stand up a new department,” said Chief Todd Carnell of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. “That allows us to stay focused on delivering better and faster service to the citizens we protect.”
Expanding Emergency Drone Logistics
The program builds on ArcherFRS work with Manatee County EMS and Tampa General Hospital on 911-integrated drone delivery of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and Narcan. ArcherFRS describes that initiative as the first of its kind in the United States.
ArcherFRS systems can also carry EpiPens and other emergency medical supplies. The company lists payload capacity at approximately 6.5 to 7 pounds, with each hub covering roughly 35 to 50 square miles under appropriate conditions.
The Hillsborough County program expands the role of drones in emergency medicine from delivering more common medical supplies to transporting temperature-sensitive whole blood. If successful, the model could help first responders bring a critical trauma resource to patients before they reach a hospital.
Read more:
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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