Desperates | Grav

Emergency Blood

{{tdata('Term for emergency units} are immediately available and will be compatible with almost all patients. They are appropriate to use when the risk of exsanguination is high. However the units may be incompatible if the patient has red cell antibodies so should only be used in true emergencies.
Group specific units take 10-15 minutes till issue. Like the {{tdata('Term for emergency units} these units may be incompatible if the patient has red cell antibodies so should only be used in true emergencies. Using group specific units helps Blood Bank maintain stock of desperate units for other patients.
Urgent crossmatching of red cell units takes 45-60 minutes and are fully compatible with the patient.
Remember to check the patient's ID when taking the blood sample and when administering the blood, even in an emergency. There is no point saving the patient only for him/her to die of an ABO incompatible transfusion!

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