World War II
As the war progressed, a better understanding of blood and its importance to the human body was established by the contributions of Dr. Charles Drew. He found the plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, could be separated into its three main components and used to replace blood in a blood transfusion. Plasma was easier to transport than blood because it lasted longer and was not as difficult to keep ready for the patient. It was also found that plasma could be used as an effective treatment for shock resulting from major blood loss. Injuries where patients sustained major blood loss were common due to the explosions and machine gun fire that ravaged the battlefields. Because of this, plasma proved to be an invaluable tool to be used in the saving of men's lives.
World War I
Though the practice of blood transfusions had been around prior to the outbreak of the war, they were an extremely messy and inefficient procedure. It often required both the donor and the receiver be together in the same room, with the transfer made directly from one body to another; due to the fact that doctors did not yet know how to properly store and transport the blood. This procedure did not allow for the proper cleaning and testing of the blood before it was sent into the other person, resulting in many cases of sepsis and death. In 1914, researchers noticed that by mixing sodium citrate in with the blood upon removal from the donor, they were able to prevent clotting and therefore store and transport the blood much easier. Because of this discovery, blood transfusions were, for the very first time, performed on the battlefield. Saving countless American lives and revolutionizing the medical feild of trauma.
As the war progressed, a better understanding of blood and its importance to the human body was established by the contributions of Dr. Charles Drew. He found the plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, could be separated into its three main components and used to replace blood in a blood transfusion. Plasma was easier to transport than blood because it lasted longer and was not as difficult to keep ready for the patient. It was also found that plasma could be used as an effective treatment for shock resulting from major blood loss. Injuries where patients sustained major blood loss were common due to the explosions and machine gun fire that ravaged the battlefields. Because of this, plasma proved to be an invaluable tool to be used in the saving of men's lives.
World War I
Though the practice of blood transfusions had been around prior to the outbreak of the war, they were an extremely messy and inefficient procedure. It often required both the donor and the receiver be together in the same room, with the transfer made directly from one body to another; due to the fact that doctors did not yet know how to properly store and transport the blood. This procedure did not allow for the proper cleaning and testing of the blood before it was sent into the other person, resulting in many cases of sepsis and death. In 1914, researchers noticed that by mixing sodium citrate in with the blood upon removal from the donor, they were able to prevent clotting and therefore store and transport the blood much easier. Because of this discovery, blood transfusions were, for the very first time, performed on the battlefield. Saving countless American lives and revolutionizing the medical feild of trauma.
Vietnam
The Vietnam War also proved to be a very exciting time in the study of blood transfusions. For the first time in history, due to the further study into the science behind blood and the improvement of blood bank facilities, foward medical units were able to receive all four types of blood, as oppose to just Type O. American military forces also streamlined its ability to package, store, and transport blood through the improvements in anticoagulants, which allowed the blood to be stored longer, and the new found ability to freeze packaged blood.
The Vietnam War also proved to be a very exciting time in the study of blood transfusions. For the first time in history, due to the further study into the science behind blood and the improvement of blood bank facilities, foward medical units were able to receive all four types of blood, as oppose to just Type O. American military forces also streamlined its ability to package, store, and transport blood through the improvements in anticoagulants, which allowed the blood to be stored longer, and the new found ability to freeze packaged blood.
Iraq and Afghanistan
The Golden Hour Blood Container was designed intentionally for use in wartime situations with the capability of storing up to four units of blood to the correct tempurature, 34-43 degrees Fahrenheit, in order to allow medics an pronlonged window of opportunity for safe tranport anf transfer. This development was crucial in the survival rate of many wounded soldiers in need of blood in Iraq and Afghanistan, given the intense heat experienced on a daily basis in the Middle East. Without the ability to keep the blood cool prior to transfer, it would have very quickly gone bad as a result of the desert-like conditions, thus rendering that soldier waiting on that lifesaving blood transfer a dead man.
The Golden Hour Blood Container was designed intentionally for use in wartime situations with the capability of storing up to four units of blood to the correct tempurature, 34-43 degrees Fahrenheit, in order to allow medics an pronlonged window of opportunity for safe tranport anf transfer. This development was crucial in the survival rate of many wounded soldiers in need of blood in Iraq and Afghanistan, given the intense heat experienced on a daily basis in the Middle East. Without the ability to keep the blood cool prior to transfer, it would have very quickly gone bad as a result of the desert-like conditions, thus rendering that soldier waiting on that lifesaving blood transfer a dead man.