Final answer:
Type O blood is transfused in emergencies when the patient's blood type is unknown because it is universally compatible. In the absence of available blood, a saline solution may be used. Research continues on artificial blood substitutes to potentially ease the requirement for blood type matching.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following a motor vehicle accident leading to multiple traumatic injuries and severe bleeding, the healthcare team must act quickly to stabilize the patient. If there is no time to determine the patient's blood type, type O blood is administered. This is because type O is the universal donor and can be given to patients of any blood type without causing an adverse reaction. In emergency situations where type O blood is not available, intravenous administration of a saline solution may be used to replace lost volume and provide fluids and electrolytes that mimic normal blood plasma. Additionally, research is being done on artificial blood and blood substitutes, which contain hemoglobin and perfluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers, to potentially overcome the issue of blood type compatibility in transfusions.