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THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION:
A BRIEF RESUMÉThe Foundation's charitable, non-commercial Blood Care
Programme is designed to provide screened blood, resuscitation fluids and
sterile transfusion equipment, in an emergency, to its members in any part of
the world. The positive reception this Programme has received is no
doubt due to the slow realisation that the numerous diseases transmitted by
blood are rampant in many countries. Examples of these diseases are HIV I and
II, hepatitis B, C and G and malaria, and they are unlikely to be brought under
control for many years. The combination of these diseases, the acute shortage
of any blood for transfusion at any time and the lack of sterile medical
material and equipment in many parts of the world have given rise to great
concern. This is particularly so in expatriate communities, and among business
travellers, their spouses and tourists. Membership of the Blood Care Programme is available to
everyone. When a member needs assistance, the treating doctor, or if he is not
available a relative or colleague, calls one of the Foundation's Alarm Centres.
On receipt of the call, and after the patient's eligibility has been verified,
one of the Duty Medical Officers (DMOs) will discuss the case with the treating
doctor. If the DMO considers the patient requires a blood transfusion, he will
arrange for a courier to collect blood from one of the Foundation's blood banks
and take it to the hospital in which the patient is being treated. The
Foundation has now developed its activities to the stage where it is able to
provide screened blood from a global network of blood banks, supplied from
sources maintaining the highest internationally accepted standards. These blood
banks are subject to unannounced inspection at any time by the Foundation's
Quality Assurance Manager or Clinical Director. The Foundation has also established, and is continually
expanding, an integrated network of Regional Supply Points (RSPs), which hold
stocks of essential resuscitation fluids, sterile transfusion equipment and
up-country emergency medical packs. These are accessible to all Blood Care
Programme members. A number of Regional Supply Points are operational including
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Kazakstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Abu
Dhabi, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Columbia, Panama, Peru,
Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Switzerland and Portugal. It is eventually planned to
have 600 such RSPs. The Blood Care Foundation: Common questions answeredQ1. Where does the blood come from? A1. Switzerland, France, or the USA. Additional sources from
Singapore and Holland are at present being negotiated. Q2. How is the blood delivered to the distressed
traveller? A2. The blood is delivered to the member by courier, usually
a doctor trained in resuscitation and aeromedical evacuation, by scheduled
flight. Q3. Does the Blood Care Foundation deliver in all
situations? A3. No. Only in emergencies and subject to the treating
doctor and the doctor in the BCF Alarm Centre agreeing that blood is required
in this particular case and that the local supplies are not reliable. In
addition, pre-existing conditions are excluded, as are hazardous pursuits,
travelling against doctors' advice, pregnancy beyond the 24th week and elective
surgery. Full terms and conditions are available on request. Q4. What if I am in a very remote spot? A4. As BCF uses scheduled airlines, blood is normally
delivered via the nearest airport, used by these airlines, to the hospital in
which you are being treated. From there the courier will come to the hospital
by road. If, due to diplomatic problems, this is impossible, arrangements will
be made for the courier to hand over the blood to your representative, who will
then take the blood to the hospital. We strongly recommended you obtain
emergency medical assistance cover, which BCF will be happy to help arrange.
This will allow BCF, in an emergency to liase with the assistance company to
ensure the blood will either be taken to the hospital by private plane or you
will be evacuated to a place served by a scheduled airline. Blood is never
delivered to a facility, which does not have adequate surgical and laboratory
facilities. Q5. How many blood banks do BCF have? A5. The Foundation has five blood banks around the world;
they are supplied by the sources indicated in A1. above. This number will soon
increase as new sources come on stream. Q6. How long does it take for blood to be delivered? A6. The physical location of the blood banks around the
world enables a local courier to collect the blood from the nearest blood bank
and take it by scheduled flight to the patient. Whereas the Foundation cannot
guarantee delivery within 12 hours, it is unlikely to take longer to reach the
patient, unless they are in a particularly remote location. © The Blood Care Foundation |
