So, there I was, surfing the internets, when lo and behold, I stumble across a gem.
Ya’ll should go have a look, too.
Have a look around, it’s full of yummy austere-care goodness. Lots of checklists, etc. Do note that this site is focused on a scenario in which: 1. Badness has occurred, 2. You’ve got the Recipient of Badness stabilized, 3. help is on the way, but 4. won’t be here for a while. It’s not TEOTWAWKI zombie apocalypse straight up EMP grid downishness, but there is much to learn.
–Grouch.
Hogwarts School of Grid-Down Medicine and Wizardry 
Reblogged this on South Carolina, Free!.
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Doc Grouch all I can say is WOW and many thanks to you. An amazing site and TONs of information for those of us going to be in the upcoming festivities. Lots of cheat sheets I wish I had long ago cause my brain can;t hold all that information, too full of other things. Thanks again.
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Thanks for the great link Doc, and for the many reminders therein of how woefully underprepared I am. Question, or a suggestion for a future article on FWB transfusions perhaps?
http://prolongedfieldcare.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/emergency-wb-protocol.pdf states:
“Whole blood type A donors to A recipients and whole blood type O donors to all other types (e.g. AB).”
http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/borden/FileDownloadpublic.aspx?docid=189c4a13-522f-4d91-9236-a109d7b5ee4d states:
“If fresh whole blood is required, it MUST be ABO type-specific.”
I can, somewhat, get my mind around the Type O low-titer anti-a/anti-b recommendation if the recipient’s ABO type wasn’t known or there was no ABO-compatible donor available – but why would Type O FWB be recommended over ABO-compatible FWB for B and AB recipients?
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Thanks for the great question! We actually posted a separate Frequently Asked Questions information paper to answer these exact questions:
https://prolongedfieldcare.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/draft-fwb-faqs-ver-2-0-dr-cap-03nov14.docx
I am the medic that runs the site. Remember that the site was written for Spec Ops medics. While most of the principals may translate to grid down med, our guys go to some of the worst environments on earth in very small teams without the option to check titre due to funding and availability of testing expecting medevac within a few days. (Not the best answer, but the risk is considered low enough to be acceptable by our command in these rare circumstances) ABO type specific is preferred, however, I personally have an uncommon blood type and will have to take what I can get. This gets other medics comfortable with options besides letting me die while they worry about finding type-specific blood. The Rangers are starting to check titre on all universal donors because they are a small enough organization with the funds to do so. Low titres will be issued donor kits to take on missions and self transfuse the minute someone is injured severely enough. This frees up the medic to do other things. If they end up not using it, it can be given back to the guy, no harm, no foul. If you have a core group of members and can afford it and find a testing facility, get titres checked and stick with the low titres as universal donors, although, you may likely make the decision to assume the risk. When you absorb new people you will have to determine who and how to incorporate them into your walking blood bank. We are tested every six months for HIV. Oraquick HIV testing everyone will help mitigate some risk. Also be prepared to identify and mitigate transfusion reactions that may arise. If you are thinking this far ahead, you are likely light years ahead of the standard prepper and even most governmental organizations who likely rely on component therapy from established hospitals and blood banks.
DOL
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