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U.S. Coast Guard drops donated blood to cruise ship

Need a blood transfusion kit and are out at sea? Turns out the United States Coast Guard (USCG) can help you with that.

A Holland America cruise ship was a couple of days away from port in the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, when a passenger required a blood transfusion due to internal bleeding. The ship radioed the USCG for help and a team got to work getting the necessary blood and equipment together.

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The USCG contacted Tripler Army Medical Center on Oahu and the Blood Bank of Hawaii to find the right blood type. Within seven hours, the cargo was flown over 1,600 km out to sea on a Hercules HC-130 and airdropped via parachute to the cruise ship, as seen in this amazing video:

A press release noted that the USCG routinely drops lifesaving equipment to individuals in distress, with life rafts, radios, emergency rations and medical supplies the most common.

The cruise ship will stay in contact with the USCG until it arrives in Lahaina, Maui on Tuesday.

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