Final answer:
In cases where blood transfusion is not immediately available, medics can restore the lost body fluid by administering an intravenous saline solution that provides fluids and electrolytes similar to normal blood plasma.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient loses a significant amount of blood due to trauma or disease, a blood transfusion may be required to restore the lost blood volume. However, if type O blood is not immediately available, medics may administer an intravenous saline solution that provides fluids and electrolytes similar to normal blood plasma.
This saline solution helps to replace some of the volume of blood that has been lost and restore the loss of body fluid. Research is also being done to develop artificial blood substitutes that can carry out the oxygen-carrying function of blood without the need for red blood cells, enabling transfusions in the field without compatibility concerns.