What substance do EMT use instead of blood for transfusing their patients?

Question

Find out what an EMT gives to a patient when the technician administers an emergency transfusion in the field. Why do technicians use this substance instead of blood for transfusing their patients?

Answer 1

Registered Nurse here; First let me clarify EMT's Do Not give transfusions of any type under any circumstances. Nothing less than a paramedic can give a transfusion out in the field. For transfusions carry there own risk and one needs to be well educated and versed in the administration of fluids anytime they are given directly into the vein. Ringers Lactate is what is given in the field, it is most like our blood, therefore this is the I.V. of choice. As for blood it's not even on ambulances nor care flights, for blood must be typed and crossed matched in order to give. Now care flight when they pick up a patient from emergency rooms can be given Packed Red Blood Cells to take with them to administer to the patient while in route. Blood is also not usually on ambulance for the life span of blood not frozen is about 24 hours, and then it must be kept very cold.

Answer 2

The anwer will be different for different places depending on what the EMS standards are locally. Call your local ambulance service or fire department EMT and ask what they use in the field to get an exact answer.

The general answer is that a volume expander is used in the field because of the problems of typing blood and having safe blood constantly available.

Answer 3

far as i know emts dont routinely carry blood products in the ambulance..blood needs to be kept refrigerated and such...usually they will give a saline solution to help keep the vital signs elevated and replace fluid loss till they reach the hospital

Answer 4

the normal trauma fluid is lactated ringers solution, normal saline and dextrose or other options for fluid replacement. these replace the volume to prevent shock and carry meds but doesn't do anything to carry oxygen to the cells. whole blood or pack cells do that and in this area, we don't carry them on ems.

Answer 5

I would think they'd probably use plasma. They would use that instead of blood because plasma doesn't have to be typed - if you have an unconscious patient, the patient isn't going to be able to tell you what their blood type is, and you won't have time to type it yourself.

This is just a guess, though.

Answer 6

Hi routine use of ringers lactate haemacel dextran and many others as they are safer and have less complications