BLOOD ON BOARD APPEAL
Take the £500 pledge
Having blood on board needs you to make it happen.
Could you be one of 60 people donating £500 to get us to the £30,000 needed to keep flying blood to those who need it most?
Each year EHAAT’s critical care teams treat approximately 60 patients who are in desperate need of a blood transfusion at the scene of an incident. On average it costs £500 for us to help one patient in need of blood.
In return for your £500 donation, EHAAT’s Blood Project Lead Laurie Phillipson, will be in touch twice a year to update you on the impact pre-hospital blood on board is having in your community.
Your £500 could save the life of one critically ill patient in need of blood
Any funds received over and above the £30,000 target will be used to help us provide our ongoing life-saving service.
Delivering blood on board
1. Blood – Blood that is donated to the NHS is separated into different components. EHAAT’s critical care teams use bags of O negative red blood cells, which are delivered to our airbases by the Essex Voluntary Blood Service.
2. Blood Plasma – Blood plasma is another component of blood. This can be combined with red blood cells or used alone to treat a critically ill patient. Red blood cells and blood plasma form an effective blood replacement for our shocked and bleeding patients.
3. Blood Warmer – When a patient requires a blood transfusion the red blood cells and blood plasma are warmed to body temperature. This makes them safe to administer and helps prevent hypothermia.
4. Cool Box – Specialist cool boxes with an electronic temperature tag are used to transport our blood products on every mission. They keep blood at a controlled temperature to preserve it in the best possible condition. The bags reduce the risk of the blood products freezing or overheating and decrease the risk of wastage. Unused blood is returned to The Princess Alexandra Hospital after each shift.
Your giving matters so people like Martin can be here to share their story
Martin*, like many of the critically ill patients we attend, had sustained a high-energy collision affecting every part of his body. He had multiple injuries, including a collapsed lung, and multiple points of bleeding. The combined blood loss from such injuries can be fatal.
Martin’s blood pressure was dropping rapidly due to the blood loss. On scene, the team were able to resuscitate Martin and use O negative packed red blood cells and plasma to support his circulation, enabling them to fly him to a major trauma centre.
We are delighted to hear that Martin is now making a good recovery.
*name changed for case study

