A field emergency whole blood donor should be evaluated prior to the donation.
Preliminary tasks:
(1) confirm blood group
(2) exclude air crew, key machinery operators and heavy good vehicle drivers
Primary triage:
(1) wants to give blood
(2) has given blood before
Secondary triage:
(1) feeling unwell
(2) taking medicines for blood pressure, stroke, heart, lung, kidney, cancer or blood condition
(3) received blood product transfusion in the past year
(4) have or live within someone who has hepatitis B, C, HIV or AIDS
(5) been refused as a donor or told not to donate blood
(6) ever had sex with another male (if male)
(7) pregnant or breastfeeding (if female)
(8) ever taken illegal drugs with a needle (including anabolic steroids)
where:
• Living with someone with hepatitis C may not be a valid criteria for exclusion.
• A person may be refused for donation due to a low hemoglobin from iron deficiency.
Physical exam:
(1) temperature
(2) rash
(3) malnutrition
(4) pallor
(5) jaundice
(6) cyanosis
(7) shortness of breath
(8) intoxication
(9) status of veins
Reasons to disqualify:
(1) exclusion group (above)
(2) does not want to donate
(3) any "yes" response on secondary triage
(4) any sign of illness on physical exam
(5) difficult veins on physical exam
