Managing Transfusion Service in Disasters

Disasters, which may be natural or manmade, can happen unexpectedly, with an urgent increase in demand for health services including blood service. Many casualties undergo transfusions and massive blood transfusion is a common scenario in a disaster. In multiple trauma, requiring massive blood transfusion, each haematological parameter has its target to achieve with correct blood component transfusion. Hence, it is undebatable that the necessity of blood components shoots in a such situation.

Publications share the contribution of blood service in disasters, explaining the importance of preparedness. Blood collection, processing, transportation, and distribution should be properly planned. Therefore, experience from past incidences is critical in developing a such protocol. Every aspect of blood transfusion including patient identification, compatibility testing and administration is challenging in a disaster situation. Coordination with other centres is also a crucial point. Well-established IT systems enhance blood inventory management and redistribution in an emergency.

The disaster management plan, which must include a multidisciplinary approach, should be established in every transfusion service, and regular training programmes, drills, audits, and revising help to improve disaster management.