Abstract
The prime and essential function of any emergency blood service is to provide ample supplies of blood and blood derivatives to the medical services operating in the post-nuclear disaster period with as much despatch and precision as possible. To meet these needs, a plan has been devised in Canada whereby 600,000 units of whole blood may become available for the treatment of an estimated 200,000 living casualties in the two- to three-week period immediately following a national disaster. The disaster organization is based upon the existing Canadian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service which is currently providing blood and blood fractions to all hospitals, coast to coast, through its 16 depots. The key to the emergency operation is the establishment of shadow depots in preselected sites 50 to 75 miles from the existing depots and in places free of fallout. Stockpiling of essential blood transfusion supplies and equipment, along with a peace-time training program of essential personnel, is a prerequisite for the success of the plan.