Blood loss underestimated at scene of accidents.

Haemorrhage is a major cause of death in the trauma patient. In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate how accurate visual assessment of blood loss is at the scene of accident. Five case scenarios were set up using manikins and time expired whole human blood. The manikins were all dressed identically in jogging suit bottoms and a woollen jumper and were all laid supine on a concrete surface. Ten paramedics and ten emergency ambulance technicians were asked to estimate how much blood there was in each case.