Latin America: Expats Devise Ways to Meet Emergency Needs for Blood

Posted on October 12, 2016 • Filed under: Ecuador, Ecuador Emergency, Latin America Health

By Karen Catchpole / blogs.wsj.com
Oct 5, 2016 10:54 am ET

In 2010, Susan Netherton, a U.S. expat who was living near Lake Chapala in Mexico, found herself in a medical emergency.

She needed a blood transfusion after a surgery-induced infection, but there was no match in the hospital’s blood bank for her O-negative blood. An urgent call for O-negative donors went out to area friends and on Facebook, TV and the radio. More than three days passed before she got the blood she needed.

While Ms. Netherton ultimately recovered, her dilemma highlights a potential concern for many expats around the world.

After having trouble finding the type of blood he needed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, expat Nicholas Crowder formed a Facebook group called Ecuador Emergency. It has more than 2,200 members and acts as an emergency clearinghouse, including blood donations needed by members. Read Full Article

SAFETY, SECURITY, HEALTH IN ECUADOR – READ THE BOOK

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