Final answer:
Type O blood is transfused in emergencies where there's no time to determine blood type because it's the universal donor. During a blood transfusion, CPCTs must report any abnormal vital signs immediately. Hemovigilance systems are used to minimize transfusion errors and the risk of HTRs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a critical situation such as a motor vehicle accident where a patient sustains multiple traumatic injuries and is experiencing severe bleeding, a cross match to determine blood type is usually necessary before a blood transfusion. However, if there is an immediate threat to life and no time to determine blood type, type O blood is transfused. This is because type O blood is considered the universal donor and is less likely to cause a hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR), a potentially lethal complication that results from transfusing incompatible blood types.
It is crucial for a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) to report any abnormal vital signs immediately during a blood transfusion. Signs that may indicate a transfusion reaction include a fever, chills, back pain, a drop in blood pressure, or an increase in heart rate. Any of these symptoms should be reported to a nurse or physician as they occur. In addition, healthcare facilities use hemovigilance systems to track transfusion information and minimize the risk of HTRs due to clerical error.