What's your blood type?

[WSUCougar]

Spurred by another thread, let's see what FOFC's blood type breakdown looks like.

Interesting info from the Red Cross
• Almost 40% of the population has O+ blood
• Patients with Type O blood must receive Type O blood
• About half of all blood ordered by hospitals is Type O
• Type O blood is the universal blood type and is the only blood type that can be transfused to patients with other blood types
• Only about 7% of all people have Type O negative blood
• Type O negative blood is the preferred type for accident victims and babies needing exchange transfusions
• There is always a need for Type O donors because their blood may be transfused to a person of any blood type in an emergency

Out of 100 donors . . . . .
84 donors are RH+ (of which 38 are O+, 34 are A+, 9 are B+, 3 are AB+)
16 donors are RH- (of which 7 are O-, 6 are A-, 2 are B-, 1 is AB-)

[VPI97]

Are you bored today?

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by VPI97

Are you bored today?

Not really. Why, am I bothering you?

[RendeR]

Very interestnig statistics Coug...I never realized I had such important blood ( O-Neg )

[Raiders Army]

You've got to Be Positive

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

I'm A-. It's given me a complex my whole life. No matter what I do I'll never be the best.

[Icy]

I'm B+ that i think it's not very uncommon.

[WSUCougar]

Mine's B- and I never realized it was that rare a type. I feel special!

[JAG]

AB+. I can handle any of your blood.

[sterlingice]

I've got the A+. The back of my donor card says 33.3% of people have that, second to O+

SI

[digamma]

O- here.

[oliegirl]

Also O Neg...but I am also RH Neg. so I get to have the shot after childbirth...as if the labor itself wasn't enough, they stick me with needles afterward!

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Originally Posted by oliegirl

Also O Neg...but I am also RH Neg. so I get to have the shot after childbirth...as if the labor itself wasn't enough, they stick me with needles afterward!

Got it in the leg before all the drugs from the c-section wore off. Couldn't feel a thing.

[KevinNU7]

O Neg bitches. They call me all the time to doante platelettes

[Raven Hawk]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

O Neg bitches. They call me all the time to doante platelettes

How lucky you must feel . . .

[oliegirl]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

O Neg bitches. They call me all the time to doante platelettes

The first time I donated blood was when I was in college - we got points toward community service in my sorority if we donated...anyway, I get a message about 2 days after I donate from the Red Cross saying it's urgent they talk to me and that I have to call them right away. After totally freaking out and thinking they were calling to tell me I have some horrible disease, I manage to get the nerve to call only to be told that I am O Negative and asked if I would like to join their "Frequent Donation List". I said no and hung up...was relieved, but still pissed!

[Simms]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Mine's B- and I never realized it was that rare a type. I feel special!

B- here as well. Now I feel guilty for not donating more often.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by oliegirl

The first time I donated blood was when I was in college - we got points toward community service in my sorority if we donated...anyway, I get a message about 2 days after I donate from the Red Cross saying it's urgent they talk to me and that I have to call them right away. After totally freaking out and thinking they were calling to tell me I have some horrible disease, I manage to get the nerve to call only to be told that I am O Negative and asked if I would like to join their "Frequent Donation List". I said no and hung up...was relieved, but still pissed!

Aw, c'mon. They're looking for you to give blood and save people's lives. Can't make you that pissed. Tho, I've gotta admit, if they called me, I'd be scared about them finding some rare disease or something in my blood.

SI

[KevinNU7]

Originally Posted by Raven Hawk

How lucky you must feel . . .

Yes I do. My blood is used to to save the lives of people with blood diseases and those being treated for cancer. It is very rewarding

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Raven Hawk

How lucky you must feel . . .

Donating platelets and plasma is one of the easiest most rewarding community service projects you can do.

Called apheresis the procedure takes up to two hours. You sit in a big comfortable chair, wrapped in warm blankets. The machine they hook you to draws your blood, spins out the needed components, and returns it to your body. Once the needed amount of plasma and platelets are taken, they finish the cycle with a straight blood donation. Some donors just do the plasma and platelets, which enables them to donate 26 times per year. If you donate the blood too you can only donate 6 times per year.

The plasma and platelets I donate (so I am told) goes to infants and childhood cancer patients - I have A+ blood and am RV+ (or whichever one is the safe one).

Anyway - long story short - anyone here who donates blood or is interested in a meaningful, low-stress community service gig should look into it.

[oliegirl]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Aw, c'mon. They're looking for you to give blood and save people's lives. Can't make you that pissed. Tho, I've gotta admit, if they called me, I'd be scared about them finding some rare disease or something in my blood.

SI

Well, as many freshman do, I had recently become "active" so my first reaction was to freak out...and it would have been nice if they had said "Hi, this is the Red Cross - we wanted to thank you for your donation and ask that you call us back to discuss our frequent donor program" instead of "Hi, this is the Red Cross, you recently made a blood donation and we need to speak with you as soon as possible. It's urgent that you call us back."

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by JAG

AB+. I can handle any of your blood.

Me too. I've always felt a little guilty about this.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by oliegirl

Well, as many freshman do, I had recently become "active" so my first reaction was to freak out...and it would have been nice if they had said "Hi, this is the Red Cross - we wanted to thank you for your donation and ask that you call us back to discuss our frequent donor program" instead of "Hi, this is the Red Cross, you recently made a blood donation and we need to speak with you as soon as possible. It's urgent that you call us back."

Fortunately you are all groweds up now and can see how important your blood type is to the Red Cross and community at large, while forgiving an intemperate phone bank volunteer who might have gotten a little overzealous.

[oliegirl]

Originally Posted by Subby

Fortunately you are all groweds up now and can see how important your blood type is to the Red Cross and community at large, while forgiving an intemperate phone bank volunteer who might have gotten a little overzealous.

Yeah - I still donate 2 or 3 times a year...damn vampires never get my vein on the first stick though!

[sterlingice]

That's one thing I was blessed with: my blood flows fast. A+ blood isn't exactly in high demand, but there are enough people who need it.

SI

[Subby]

Originally Posted by oliegirl

Yeah - I still donate 2 or 3 times a year...damn vampires never get my vein on the first stick though!

That sucks. It's cool that you still donate, because getting stuck is no fun.

[WSUCougar]

I've given blood a few times, but I've almost given up trying because I can't get through a full session without passing out. I'll get around 2/3 done and then the fuzzy fingers start coming into my vision, and the Red Cross staff begins to freak out. It's a real bummer because I really do want to do it, and at least on a conscious level the concept doesn't bother me.

[vex]

C+

[Young Drachma]

A+

[duckman]

Originally Posted by Farrah Whitworth-Rahn

I'm A-. It's given me a complex my whole life. No matter what I do I'll never be the best.

I got A- as well. However, I never developed a complex over it.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by vexroid

C+

Perhaps you're confusing this with the "Grades" thread from yesterday

SI

[HomerJSimpson]

I am a postive person.

[Kodos]

I've managed to get through 35 years without ever picking up that piece of information. Part of it is the thought of a needle in my arm gives me the willies. I avoid it as much as possible.

[Raven Hawk]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

Yes I do. My blood is used to to save the lives of people with blood diseases and those being treated for cancer. It is very rewarding

Perhaps I phrased that I wrong. If you donate platelets, I have nothing but respect for you, as I doubt many people at this board do.

My reference was more towards how lucky you must be to get people calling you every two weeks to bug you to give platelets. I give blood on a semi-regular basis (3-4 times a year) and sometimes it frustrates me that the call me the day that I become eligible to give again.

I would encourage everybody to give blood/platelets because I think that it is a worthy cause. I've always had a thing about needles and I didn't start donating blood until two or three years ago (31 y/o now). Personally, I haven't had the courage to step up to the platelet machine yet and I give props to those who do. Yet, after Subby's description, I may inquire about it when I go in to donate in two weeks. That was very informative, thanks, Subby.

[nilodor]

I have O- and the blood people won't leave me alone. I swear one night I'm going to wake up and they are going to be in my room taking all my blood and marrow.

[Maple Leafs]

My wife volunteered at Canadian Blood Services a few years ago and talked me into going. I told her I'd do it once to make her happy, and that would be it.

Turns out I'm O- ... and on top of that, there's some extremely common virus/bacteria/something that I've never been exposed to, so my blood can be given to newborn babies. Needless to say, they're very anxious to see me every eight weeks.

[terpkristin]

B-, which I think is one of the more rare types.

That said, they never manage to get my blood because they can't stick me (er, I'm a hard stick. Even nurses at hospitals for my surgeries usually have to stick me about 5 times--on average--to get a good line in...)

/tk

[Raven Hawk]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

B-, which I think is one of the more rare types.

That said, they never manage to get my blood because they can't stick me (er, I'm a hard stick. Even nurses at hospitals for my surgeries usually have to stick me about 5 times--on average--to get a good line in...)

/tk

That one's just full of inuendo . . .

[Poli]

I nearly passed out giving blood two weeks ago.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

I nearly passed out giving blood two weeks ago.

Haha, sissy!

[Poli]

Given countless times before, and I was #2 in line this past time. Sitting there just relaxing...looked at my blood, wondered why I wasn't done yet, and then started flipping out. I never passed out, but I did start sweating like a hog, despite ice packs being placed all around me.

The technician initially didn't believe me when I told her I needed help.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

I've heard that if you are a certain blood type you can metabolize certain foods better. ie A POS like my self will metabolize fruit and veggies better etc.

[finkenst]

Originally Posted by Subby

Donating platelets and plasma is one of the easiest most rewarding community service projects you can do.

Called apheresis the procedure takes up to two hours. You sit in a big comfortable chair, wrapped in warm blankets. The machine they hook you to draws your blood, spins out the needed components, and returns it to your body. Once the needed amount of plasma and platelets are taken, they finish the cycle with a straight blood donation. Some donors just do the plasma and platelets, which enables them to donate 26 times per year. If you donate the blood too you can only donate 6 times per year.

The plasma and platelets I donate (so I am told) goes to infants and childhood cancer patients - I have A+ blood and am RV+ (or whichever one is the safe one).

Anyway - long story short - anyone here who donates blood or is interested in a meaningful, low-stress community service gig should look into it.

you can do apheresis 26x a year.

you can give whole blood 6x a year.

I'm trying to get to do 20x apheresis and 6x pints.

apheresis at the red cross. pints at work's blood drives.

[vex]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Perhaps you're confusing this with the "Grades" thread from yesterday

SI

C- then

[Taco]

Originally Posted by duckman

I got A- as well. However, I never developed a complex over it.

I've got A- also. No complex needed, A- is the best!

[Pumpy Tudors]

I don't know my blood type. I don't know if I weigh enough to donate blood. Does anyone know what the minimum weight is? Last time I thought about donating, I was somewhere around 115 pounds, and I don't think that was enough. I might be up to about 125 now, but I'm still not sure.