Page 116 - ATP-P 11th Ed

with the blood to prevent areas of high citrate concentration. Make every attempt to
insulate the collection bag and keep it off of the ground in order to keep the collected
SECTION 1 j. Remove about 450mL of blood (enough so the bag is almost full). Overfilling the
blood warm.
bag may cause clotting. A trip scale should be used for accuracy (measure 450 ± 50g
plus weight of blood bag). Alternatively, a 9.5-inch piece of 550-cord (NSN 4020-
00-246-0688) can be used to estimate when the blood collection bag is adequately
filled. With the bag lying on a flat surface place the 9.5-inch piece of cord under the
bag and wrap it around the width of the bag. When you are able to bring the ends of
the cord together to the point where they will just barely meet without compressing
or lifting the bag, the bag is adequately filled.
Never collect more than one unit from an individual.

Measurement – bring the ends of a 9.5-inch
piece of cord together around the bag until they
just meet.

k. If at a fixed facility a blood trip scale can be constructed with a counterweight of 585
grams. The counterweight can be approximated by adding 450mL of fluid to a blood
collection bag and tying off the collection tubing.
3. Once the bag is adequately filled, clamp the line with a hemostat near the collection bag
and remove the needle. Then double knot the collection line between the hemostat and
blood bag and cut between the knots.
4. If donor is expected to perform physical labor such as in a tactical situation. Have donor
drink 500mL of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) mixed in a ratio of 1 packet in 1000mL
of potable water.
5. Donor should lie down during collection because of the risk of syncope.
6. Donor should take food and drink immediately after donation.
7. Donor must wait at least 56 days between donations, unless the blood is reinfused into
the donor in which case there is no time limit between donations.

106 SECTION 1 TACTICAL TRAUMA PROTOCOLS (TTPs) ATP-P Handbook 11th Edition 107