It's ten years since Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance crews carried out the charity's first blood transfusion.
Since then, there's been hundreds more life-saving transfusions administered, including one in July 2022 when 57-year-old Dawn Piper suffered life-threatening injuries when she was involved in a motorhome and HGV road traffic collision in the New Forest.
The emergency blood transfusion stemmed the blood loss from her fractured femur and complex lacerations to her leg and face. Dawn’s blood pressure was falling dangerously low. Without adequate pain relief and an emergency transfusion, Dawn could have suffered injuries to her internal organs. She was taken to University Hospital Southampton by road ambulance, with the air ambulance doctor and specialist paramedic travelling with her to continue her care.
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She said: “Without the air ambulance being dispatched to the accident, my outcome would have been very different. The fact that the helicopter carries blood made all the difference. I was a long way away from home, and I am so grateful that thanks to the highly qualified team on board I eventually got back to Australia to see my daughter, partner and dog. The Aftercare team have also been instrumental in my recovery, and I am so thankful to them all.”
Most of the transfusions involve road traffic collisions, and severe gastrointestinal bleeds. For many of these patients, any delay in starting a transfusion can be life-threatening.
The blood carried on board is type O negative, known as the ‘universal donor,’ which is safe to give to any patient.
In 2022 the charity became one of the first UK Air Ambulance charities to take part in a pioneering whole blood trial, which is currently ongoing. University Hospital Southampton Blood Transfusion Department (UHS BTD) supplies the charity’s blood three times per week, which is delivered by SERV Wessex. Any blood that is not used within 48 hours is returned to UHS where it can re-enter their supply chain and therefore avoid any wastage of this precious resource.
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