This initiative is part of a series of Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) transfusion education poster campaigns that promote best transfusion practices. The WCBS Patient Safety First poster campaign aims to create awareness and educate blood users about the management and reporting of adverse transfusion events.
The Patient Safety First poster communicates eight steps for ward staff to manage and report adverse events to Blood Bank.
The Blood Services realise that there is under-reporting of adverse transfusion events in South Africa, and hope to improve this through educating hospital staff about the importance of accurate haemovigilance record-keeping. This information assists with monitoring the frequency and type of adverse events that occur in order to identify issues that can improve transfusion safety for patients. There is particular focus on any preventable adverse events, such as misdirected transfusions.
Additional information regarding the identification and management of adverse transfusion reactions can be found in Chapter 8 of the Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Blood Products in South Africa, 6th Edition. Please also peruse the national haemovigilance reports that are available on the SANBS and WCBS websites if you would like to see blood product usage for the country, and how the risks associated with blood donation and transfusion are monitored.
WCBS transfusion education poster campaigns are run in print and digital versions. To subscribe to the digital poster campaigns, click here. Framed, laminated hardcopies are available free-of-charge, on request.
For more information about WCBS transfusion education poster campaigns, contact Hayley Alie – Hospital Liaison Officer (hayleya@wcbs.org.za).
