Q: While administering saline to a patient or during blood transfusion, why is it that the saline or blood is given at a very slow rate drop-by-drop? What could happen if they were administered at a higher speed?

A:If fluids or blood is given rapidly it can lead to overloading or too much fluid in the blood vascular system. This can lead to heart failure and fluid in the lungs. Fluids are given slowly so that the fluid volume in the blood vessels has time to readjust with the fluid in the rest of the body.