Tuesday, May 02, 2006

There when you need it

There when you need it

When I donated blood some time ago, a nurse gave me a card to read while pint of vital red fluid was flowing out of my vein. The card showed the percentages of people who have different blood types. Here are some of them:

O-Positive 37.4%
A-Positive 35.7%
A-Negative 6.3 %
B-Negative 1.5%

The rarest, AB-Negative, is found in only 1 in 167 people, or 0.6% of the population. Then the card made this eye-catching statement: “The rarest blood type is the one that’s not there when you need it.”


12 Comments:

Blogger Zoe said...

I don't get it, they are the universal recipient. They can get O-, A-, B- or AB-, about 28% right. Am I missing something? Maybe I misread something.

8:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

O is the universal blood...anyone can receive it.

AB is the Universal RECEIVER...meaning that they can get blood from all the types (A,B, &O).

RH factors add to the mix, since it's best to match those from donor to receiver.

(Can you tell I used to work for the Red Cross??)

Anyhow, Yes, AB- is really, really rare...but, that's not usually that big of a deal, because they can receive blood from all the other types.

11:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have B neg. Of course, I can't give blood though because of my weak veins...oh and my veins hate things poking them. Seriously. You'll have to see where they've TRIED giving me IVs in the past. It's a freakin' crater. Hacks.

12:24 AM  
Blogger Maggie said...

I love donating blood. Every eight weeks. Veins of steel....Red Cross loves to see me coming. Plus, they give me orange juice in a cute sippy cup. That's a bonus.

5:45 AM  
Blogger The Radical Notion said...

I have A positive. I only know that cause they tell you when you have a baby. I feel like a real loser cause I have never donated but it's this needle thing, you see.

10:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I started donating as soon as I found out my uncle had to have his heart replaced... So, I am A+ {wish I could have had A+ in school :)}

Over the past year, I have not been able to donate because my iron is too low :( I miss being able to give, but I just can't get my iron up enough with the foods I eat... And I am not willing to take iron supplements...

10:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm O+, but can't give because my heart rate normally runs about 110 bpm. Apparently this freaks out the blood drive folk. They wouldn't even give me a pass when I WORKED there. Bah.

6:16 PM  
Blogger Geeky Dragon Girl said...

Seriously? They won't let people donate if their heart rate is too fast? Then I might get rejected anyway. I know I tend to run a bit fast myself. I've never tried to give blood. It's not just the needle thing (which I hate). I've passed out twice as a child. Once the doc said it was low blood sugar. The other time was the day after getting a wickedly severe sunburn all over the backs of my legs. I think it stole the blood from my brain is my guess. Whatever, I think I need to keep every drop in my body.

8:42 PM  
Blogger Weekends Off said...

I've never donated... I would, but they have a really hard time finding veins that are strong enough for poking. Mine are very thin and I just can't handle the digging around.

I am an organ & tissue donor though... so when I'm dead I'll be helping.

7:05 AM  
Blogger mikster said...

Well I know I'm B+ and it's been years since I've donated blood. I used to do it quite often at a place I worked at that had a lot of blood drives.

7:12 AM  
Blogger Geeky Dragon Girl said...

Interesting stuff donating blood...I love really love to see when the needle is introduced in my veins. And I feel no pain...I know I am weird.

And yes, O is the universal blood!

5:45 PM  
Blogger Geeky Dragon Girl said...

Eek you like watching the needle go in! I can NOT watch. I'm okay getting my blood drawn for tests and stuff, but I have to turn away. I'm so squeamish. I don't even like watching it on TV.

11:58 AM  

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