It's a nice idea, but it wouldn't happen. In a first aid / aid station situation, blood would not be available (it's very difficult to store, and has a limited shelf life. The blood itself is only good for 4 weeks if stored correctly, after 30 minutes outside the correct storage, it has to be binned).
By the time the casualty reaches anywhere that blood is available, then O -ve will be to hand (at least two units).
The killer from blood loss is the resulting hypovolaemia. The priorities are to patch up the holes, and get fluid in. Artificial plasma expanders are used in the first instance. Blood in itself is not the primary fluid infused.
Don't get me wrong, I've been involved in cases where 90+ units of blood have been given to a casualty (and sodding messy they were - some we won, some we lost). But if any of those had been the wrong blood type, it would have been endex straight away. It only takes 20 ml of the wrong blood type to kill somebody.
If the RMA's (or whatever they are called these days) are insisting on blood type being on stuff, then it's easier to go along with them. But they probably should contact the Blood Transfusion department or Haemovigalance Nurse of the local hospital to find out the latest / best practice.
Anybody on here connected with the Medical units who can look into this?
(Apologies to mods if this is off-topic)
By the time the casualty reaches anywhere that blood is available, then O -ve will be to hand (at least two units).
The killer from blood loss is the resulting hypovolaemia. The priorities are to patch up the holes, and get fluid in. Artificial plasma expanders are used in the first instance. Blood in itself is not the primary fluid infused.
Don't get me wrong, I've been involved in cases where 90+ units of blood have been given to a casualty (and sodding messy they were - some we won, some we lost). But if any of those had been the wrong blood type, it would have been endex straight away. It only takes 20 ml of the wrong blood type to kill somebody.
If the RMA's (or whatever they are called these days) are insisting on blood type being on stuff, then it's easier to go along with them. But they probably should contact the Blood Transfusion department or Haemovigalance Nurse of the local hospital to find out the latest / best practice.
Anybody on here connected with the Medical units who can look into this?
(Apologies to mods if this is off-topic)
Comment