Page 112 - ATP-P 11th Ed

Administer FFP
1. Keep FFP frozen at –0.4° F (–18° C) or below.
SECTION 1 2. Do not rough handle FFP before thawing because the bags can be easily cracked,
broken, or damaged.
3. FFP should be thawed in a water bath with the FFP bag wrapped in a plastic overwrap
bag to protect the ports from contamination and to lessen the risk of contaminating the
water bath if the FFP bag is broken or cracked (See Enclosure #2: Suggested Pack-
ing List). Thaw FFP at 98.6° F (37° C) or by using a method and/or equipment that is
intended (validated) for such use. Do not exceed 107° F (42° C).
4. Turn the plasma during the thawing process and ensure that all fibrin clots are
dissolved.
5. The plasma should be administered as rapidly as
possible after thawing. Keep plasma refrigerated
at 33–43° F (1–6° C) prior to administration.
6. Thawed plasma can be stored for 3 days at 33–
43° F (1–6° C) and then should be returned to
the MTF for use. If thawed plasma cannot be
returned to and MTF for use then it should be
discarded after storage at 33–43° F (1–6° C) for
5 days. Thawed plasma can only be kept for 30min
at room temperature (68–75° F [20–24° C]).
7. AB is the universal donor for plasma.
8. FFP is normally supplied as type AB or A.
9. Rh factor is not a concern when administering
FFP.
10. Ensure compatibility of recipient. Plasma Compatibility Diagram
11. Administer 2 units of FFP and then begin admin- (Retrieved from
istering PRBCs in a 1:1 ratio if available. You https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type)
may bolus or pressure infuse FFP immediately.
Perform a Whole Blood (FWB) Transfusion
1. LOCATE A SUITABLE DONOR.
a. Identify a blood donor who is ABO compatible with the intended recipient.
b. Due to the prevalence of Type A blood follow the rule, “Type A to Type A and then
Type O for everyone else.”
c. Rh+ (positive) patients may receive either Rh+ (positive) or Rh– (negative) blood.
d. Rh– (negative) patients should receive Rh– (negative) blood if possible, but this
may be disregarded in extremis unless the patient has received OR been exposed
to Rh+ (positive) blood and “sensitized” to the Rh antigen.

102 SECTION 1 TACTICAL TRAUMA PROTOCOLS (TTPs) ATP-P Handbook 11th Edition 103