How to Provide a Sufficient Supply of Safe, Effective and Quality-assured Blood and Blood Components in Emergency Situations

Background: Emergency situations can be personal and medical but also external and humanitarian (armed conflicts). In each situation a preparedness plan consisting of a risk assessment and gap analysis, emergency preparedness protocol, response and recovery protocol are needed. Objective: To discuss the question “how to provide a sufficient supply of safe, effective and quality blood and blood components in emergency situations?’” Study design: Literature review. Results: To adequately respond to emergency situations in medicine it is important to prevent multiple tissue and organ failure by maintaining perfusion of tissues and organs. This can be secured maintaining a low blood viscosity by infusing crystalloids or plasma replacement fluids to allow red cells to deliver oxygen. To respond adequately to emergency situations health care institutions and blood establishments need an emergency preparedness plan based on a risk assessment and gap analysis, emergency preparedness protocol and response and recovery protocol. Conclusion: Emergency situations, medical or external, need a preparedness plan based on a risk assessment and gap analysis and an anticipation on adequate response and resilience.