BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1946, Page 10

BLOOD TRANSFUSION

NEED FOR SMALL “BANK” ■ IN GREYMOUTH ADVANTAGES STRESSED This is the final article of the series on blood transfusion prepared for publication in the Evening Star. It is of particular interest in view of the proposal to establish a “blood bank” in Greymouth. 111 Blood transfusion is an established procedure of wide use and acknowledged value. In recent years there have come advances in scientific knowledge which have helped to extend the usefulness and convenience of the use of blood. The first discovery was that blood could be safely stored at low temperatures for about three weeks. This led to “blood banks” being established, and these are nowadays widely used. Some are very elaborate, store hundreds of pints of blood, and are the source from which comes almost all blood used. Tlie advantages of this are first, that blood of any type is available at once in emergency, which may save a life, and second that donors. can be bled during the day by appointment. This last obviates the need for night calls and is much less trouble -for the donors.

In smaller hospitals this is impracticable as it would lead sometimes to blood being wasted. However, in a town of the size of Greymouth a small blood bai]k could be maintained, sufficient almost to eliminate night calls and “rush” call for doners. If, .in such a small bank, any blood remained unused in three weeks, it can still be made use of, by converting it to blood plasma or serum, which keeps for six months. Serum and Plasma This leads to the question of serum and plasma. These are the liquid part of blood, with the red cells removed. They are very valuable for treating shock and burns, sometimes more valuable than whole blood. Their use was universal in the armies and hospitals of the United Nations, and they fully proved their life-saving value. They do not have to be tested against the patient’s blood, but can be given at once by injection into a vein. Thus they are more rapidly available even than stored blood, in grave emergencies. Greymouth has ample population to provide enough blood donors to maintain a small blood bank and plasma supply—more efficient and convenient for donors and doctors than the system of calling for donors only when the need arises. There is no waste; “even the red cells from plasma are used as a wound dressing. At present, Greymouth has obtained its blood plasma, of which a small stock is kept at the hospital, by the generosity of the Christchurch Blood Transfusion Society, which has supplied at a nominal sum plasma from blood given by Christchurch, citizens.

Unfortunately, ,they are no longer able to supply us, and in the meantime small quantities of American dried plasma are kept—purchased at an exorbitant price from the War Assets Realisation Board. This raises a new point, the question of dried plasma. Plasma evaporated in a cold vacuum forms a dry powder which keeps indefinitely. The process is difficult and elaborate, and cannot be done in New Zealand. But in big countries it is the ideal way to have plasma prepared. Russian idea There are reports from Russia of the wide use of blood and plasma obtained from recently dead victims of accidents, murderers, suicides, etc. The realistic Russians report that such blood is as good as that from livingpeople. But the idea is revolting to most of us in British countries, and as long as donors are available, I do not think many people would wish to see cadaver blood used —and at any rate, the supply in New Zealand would be insignificant, as violent and sudden deaths are relatively rare here.

Nobody has ever prepared an efficient substitute for blood. They are not likely to, because we cannot grow or make living blood cells. Only the human body can do that, and it does it in such abundance that there is ample to spare. Ultimately, for efficient treatment of the sick and injured, we must depend on the help and goodwill of the community. And this is as it should be, and in keeping with ihe ideals and beliefs of all true citizens.

When a donor society is formed, why not. join it and give blood? Who knows, vou may be the next to need it.