One of the other forum members mentioned that there might have been a problem with the blood given to the falang that has A- blood type!

Anyway,he suggested that it would be a good idea to carry some ID,dog tags,etc in case we needed some blood in the future!

When a patient requires blood, even in a non emergency situation the Medical staff will request a cross match of the patients blood. That is they will take a sample and test it for its blood group and then give the blood accordingly.

Medical staff dont give blood immediately based on a medic alert tags, documentation, relatives assurances etc.....

Life threatening situations continue to occcur when these procedures are not followed or short cuts taken.

Hope this assists

wazza.

You are indeed correct.

Hospitals that have a (ISO rating) will type the blood once it is withdrawn and also before the actual transfer. Both parties are always checked....or at least that is what they are supposed to do.

There are serious problems when the types don't match.

BKKSTAN wrote:One of the other forum members mentioned that there might have been a problem with the blood given to the falang that has A- blood type!

Anyway,he suggested that it would be a good idea to carry some ID,dog tags,etc in case we needed some blood in the future!

Well the dog tags would be helpful with info such as: health insurance #'s, emergency contact telephone #'s, etc.

Anyone know of a place to have them made in LOS?

Remember, don't have them made of gold or wear with a gold chain (they might not make it to the hospital with you).

My stepfather has the wristband re his request as he is O neg for plasma in dire emergency only.
Trouble is there is no international colour coding system for tags for rare blood groups,allergy to penicillin,diabetic etc unless someone knows otherwise.

Trouble in UK is they are desperate to find a donor card,sod ur blood group and presumably in the US a credit card.

Not sure if the International hospitals sell these medic alert bracelets and wrist bands, but they do provide valuable information to patients with known allergies , pre exsisting conditions, and points of contact etc... They have a medical cadeus on them to identify them as medical....

If they arent well advertised in LOS, i imagine the EMS, ER and medical staff might still miss them.

Drivers licences are also used in some countries together with organ donation consent and other known medical conditions.