Blood Transfusion Services Blood transfusion apparatus, 1914-1918

Blood Transfusion Services Blood transfusion apparatus, 1914-1918. A transfusion kit consisting of connecting tubes, a glass storage jar, and hollow needles and tubes for bleeding the donor and introducing blood into the patient. Blood treated with anticoagulants, which stop the blood clotting (forming into lumps), was first stored with some success during World War I. Although this made transfusions for casualties technically possible, they were carried out infrequently, as blood did not keep well and supplies were therefore often unavailable. Improvements in the preservation and storage of blood developed between the wars meant that blood transfusions saved many lives in World War II. ©SSPL/Science Museum