Bundeswehr Calls for Legal Changes to Enable Use of Whole Blood in Crisis Situations
Mannheim,Germany – The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) is advocating for revisions to current laws prohibiting the use of whole blood in civil protection scenarios,citing its potential to save lives during crises. Senior physician Diana sauer, director of the Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy at the Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, revealed the push during the annual conference of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunhematology, held September 17th to 19th in Mannheim.
Currently, German blood donations are fractionated into components like red blood cells, platelets, and plasma – a practice that maximizes resource utilization and minimizes risks for patients in routine medical settings. However, Sauer argues that in the event of large-scale emergencies, such as military attacks, terrorist incidents, or natural disasters, whole blood offers a faster and more effective means of treating a greater number of casualties. The Bundeswehr seeks expedited approval for this practice, acknowledging existing legal hurdles stemming from two governing laws.
“Whole blood would be the means of choice,” Sauer stated, emphasizing its ability to provide rapid assistance when demand overwhelms the capacity of component-based therapies. O-negative blood type is considered optimal due to its worldwide compatibility. Sauer expressed confidence in strong public willingness to donate in an emergency, building on existing blood donation infrastructure. The call for change underscores a growing recognition within the Bundeswehr of the need to adapt disaster response protocols to address potential large-scale crises.
