Bringing Blood to the Streets
Research conducted by the U.S. Military has demonstrated decreased mortality from hemorrhagic shock when whole blood is administered before the casualty reaches a medical treatment facility. This has energized civilian air medical and ground transport agencies to pursue a path for administering whole blood to patients before they arrive at a trauma center. This presentation discusses the benefits, indications, and contraindications for administering low-titer O-positive whole blood (LTOWB) in the civilian setting, as well as the logistical processes required to make it a reality.