The patient is to receive 2 units of packed red blood cells (RBCs) .The units are cold,and the nurse is concerned that this could lead to dysrhythmias and/or a reduction in core temperature.What action may the nurse take to prevent this?

A) Warm the blood in a microwave.
B) Warm the blood using hot water.
C) Warm the blood using a blood warmer.
D) Allow the blood to warm to room temperature before administering.

In emergency situations,rapid transfusion of cold blood may lead to dysrhythmias and a reduction in core temperature.Sometimes a blood warmer machine is used for large transfusions of greater than 50 mL/kg/hr or in patients with cold agglutinins.Heating blood products in a microwave or with hot water is dangerous and may destroy blood cells.Blood must be given within a prescribed time frame.Allowing the blood to come to room temperature before administration would decrease the time available for administration.