THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION: A BRIEF RESUMÉ

The 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 answered

Q1. 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