TRANSFUSION IN AIR

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 4

TRANSFUSION IN AIR

Doctor Saves Native’s Life (R.N.Z.AE. Official News Service) GUADALCANAR, April 5. A blood transfusion administered by a medical officer aboard a Royal New Zealand Air Force Chtalina flying-boat probably saved the life of an injured native who was being evacuated to hospital from a distant part of the Solomons. While working on a" slip a native, a mission boy, was severely burned in a gasoline explosion. Called but to act as an aerial ambulance, the Catalina made .the trip smartly from its base and 'landed in the bay where the accident took place, The squadron medical officer; Flying Officer Poate, went ashore and examined the patient, who had been given first aid treatment by a pharmacist’s mate of the United States Navy. The injured man was then transferred to the Catalina, which took off for its base. During the return flight the patient’s condition was such that Flying Officer Poate considered a blood transfusion necessary and this was given while the aircraft was in flight from plasma carried in the medical kit. The accident occurred at 10.20 a.m. and although advice was not received at the flying-boat, base till nearly one o’clock, and the aircraft had a total distance of 228 miles to cover, the Catalina had the injured man in hospital by 3.50 p.m.