The new system has become a model for remote damage control resuscitation (RDCR) worldwide.
By Hezy Laing
Whether by gunshot, explosive device or mine, treating soldiers who have been injured in battled is always difficult.
Blood loss is often rapid and many quickly go into shock.
No wonder – battlefield deaths are high.
The mortality rate of injured IDF soldiers in the field used to be about 15%.
But today, according to the army, it has dropped to just 7%.
This huge difference occurred when the IDF Medical Corps begun using low-titer O whole blood (LTOWB) to treat soldiers injured in the field.
LTOWB is a universal blood type that contains red blood cells, plasma, and platelets—making it ideal for rapid transfusion in cases of hemorrhagic shock.
Unlike traditional blood component separation, whole blood allows medics to treat severely wounded soldiers more quickly and effectively in the field.
Since the implementation of LTOWB in combat zones there has been a 50% reduction in battlefield fatalities compared to previous conflicts.
Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, began to revolutionize battlefield trauma care by deploying large amounts of whole blood.
Before the war, MDA supplied the IDF with only 5 to 10 units of whole blood per day.
But in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, that number surged to 100 units daily, with MDA staff working around the clock to meet demand.
Blood was delivered directly to evacuation helicopters, mobile ambulances, and frontline trauma centers, enabling transfusions to begin during transport rather than waiting for hospital arrival.
This innovation, coordinated with the IDF Medical Corps, dramatically improved survival rates among wounded soldiers.
Thousands of blood samples were processed daily to maintain supply, and the system became a model for remote damage control resuscitation (RDCR) worldwide.
MDA’s rapid adaptation and logistical coordination have drawn international praise, positioning Israel as a leader in combat medicine.
The whole blood system’s success underscores the importance of innovation under pressure.
As IDF operations continue in Gaza and other regions, the integration of advanced medical protocols like LTOWB remains a critical factor in saving lives and improving outcomes for wounded personnel.
