Thames Valley Air Ambulance takes part in blood trial
The charity will carry 'whole blood' enabling immediate blood transfusions for critically ill patients
Thames Valley Air Ambulance crews will be part of a trial to carry ‘whole blood’ as part of their emergency care, for the treatment of patients suffering from severe blood loss.
The charity’s critical care team has joined nine other air ambulance organisations to use ‘whole blood’ as well as separate red blood cells and plasma, as part of the SWIFT (Study of Whole Blood in Frontline Trauma) trial. The project is led by NHS Blood and Transplant in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Air Ambulances UK.
If successful, the trial could reduce trauma deaths in civilian patients as well as casualties on the battlefield and in any situation where delaying a transfusion by minutes or even seconds could be critical.
During the trial, which will last for up to two years, critical care crews will carry both whole blood and red blood cells.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance Chief Operating Officer Adam Panter said:
“We are proud to be collaborating with NHS Blood and Transplant, Air Ambulances UK, and Defence Medical Services to support this trial. Patient care is at the very heart of all that we do at Thames Valley Air Ambulance and so we welcome the opportunity to look at innovations which may improve the outcomes for those suffering these kind of injuries.
“This trial forms part of a key area of work at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, looking at areas where patient outcomes can be improved and implementing treatments and techniques which give them the best chances of recovery.”
Thames Valley Air Ambulance crews currently carry red blood cells and plasma as they are easier to store and have a longer shelf life than whole blood which contains platelets. Platelets, the part of the cell which helps blood to clot, must be stored at a set temperature and need constant movement to keep them oxygenated. This makes them difficult to use outside of hospitals which is why red blood cells and plasma are currently used.
The blood used for the trial will be O Rh negative, the ‘universal donor’ blood type which is used in emergency care, when there is no time to check the patient’s blood type before transfusion is started.
To see an interactive breakdown of Thames Valley Air Ambulance’s callout statistics, visit www.tvairambulance.org.uk/mission-map