Under the direction of Dr. Bernard Fantus, the hospital opened a dedicated facility to store and preserve blood for transfusions, using refrigeration and anticoagulants to extend blood’s shelf life. This innovation greatly improved emergency and surgical medicine. Blood banks soon spread worldwide, proving lifesaving in World War II and beyond. The practice of blood donation and banking has since become routine, saving millions of lives by ensuring blood is readily available when needed.
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Historical Context
This event occurred during the 1930s.