Advanced life support by paramedics in the field — endotracheal intubation and intravenous fluid management — does not improve survival in trauma patients, researchers here said.

Instead of administering medication in an attempt to dissolve the blood clot that was stopping the blood flow to the heart (thrombolysis), London Ambulance Service personnel are trained to use machinery to diagnose what is wrong and take patients to the nearest specialist centre - even if this means driving past an A&E department.

Complications from donating blood are rare but happen more often in teens than in older donors, including dizziness, fainting and falls, a study found.