Bastion R3 in Perspective: BLOOD

About 5 more days and our DET is about to RIP OUT!  Hard to believe it has been about 7 months here. It is hard to put things into perspective but I count myself extremely lucky to have been stationed here.  In the overall scheme of trauma combat care in Afghanistan, this unique hospital has afforded its practitioners the materials and environment to take care of the casualties pretty much as needed, with not really any tacked on "agendas".  In my very limited view of combat care this seems to be a somewhat unique thing.

In the time that  our unit has been here we have taken care of close to 1000 casualties and to put things really into perspective, transfused well over 5000 units of blood products. That blood figure alone is truly amazing when you think about it.  We basically don't have to think about blood, and assume that there always will be basically an unlimited and instantaneous availability of blood products for our wounded.  If one had to put your finger on one thing that stands out and probably allowed us to save more lives it is that fact.  It seems that it is pretty much possible here to keep up with any blood loss when we are operating, giving the surgeons that precious time needed to control the bleeding. We have just treated one ISAF casualty that has gotten over 70 units of prbcs and 70 of FFP in a 36 hour period. What a phenomenal accomplishment for a combat hospital in the middle of an Afghan desert.  And credit goes to the blood bank/lab here and to all the surrounding logistics both US and UK that keeps that supply of blood going. Oh and yes to our walking blood back too.  For the first time we started to run short of blood products (platelets mostly which seems to be the most precious) and word got out and we have had 100s from both UK and US camps come to get tested and get into the "walking pool", just to make sure we never do really run out!