title: [Blood supply readiness in case of war or disasters].
abstract: The supply and use of blood during war or disaster require efficient cooperation between national and regional civilian authorities and blood banks as well as the military chain of command and medical units. Tasks and responsibilities are regulated by a directive issued by the Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services, specifying that during crises, civilian blood banks will be ordered to provide blood to military units. Based upon information obtained by a questionnaire survey, blood banks have an adequate capacity even if the normal power supply or computerised systems fail temporarily. However, plans are presently lacking for the organisation and operation of the civilian blood supply during a crisis requiring cooperation with military units. Key roles and responsibilities for personnel on the civilian side must be defined. Normal and alternative routes of communication must be established and tested regularly.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for immunologi og transfusjonsmedisin Ullevål sykehus, Oslo. m.k.fagerhol@ioks.uio.no
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Fagerhol
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dobloug
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000458:organization & administration; D019058:Community Networks; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004630:Emergencies; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D009664:Norway; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare