As we pause on Armistice Day to remember those who gave their lives in conflict, it is fitting also to reflect on how the legacy of war has shaped and advanced haematology and transfusion medicine. The challenges faced by military medics during both World Wars drove innovation in blood storage, typing, and transfusion techniques that continue to save countless lives today.
It was during the Second World War, that British physiologist Janet Vaughan, worked with the Medical Research Council to establish national blood banks in London. Blood transfusions then played an essential role in saving soldiers’ lives during the retreat from Dunkirk and countless civilians during the Blitz.
Modern developments, from major haemorrhage protocols to t...
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