2008-12-06, 11:49 AM
To be honest, the fact that most people don't know their own blood type scares me a little. Isn't that something you SHOULD know about yourself? I mean if you are donating blood or in need of blood yourself, it IS information that is needed. In some cases, if you are given the wrong type of blood, it can have serious damaging effects on your body, possibly even death.
The most common blood types are O+ and A+. Sometimes this can vary depending on what part of the world you are from, but in general the statistics are similar. The rarest type worldwide is AB-, this is also the type that can be given any other blood type if in need of a transfusion. O- is the universal donor, in that all other types can receive O-, however, an O- person cannot be given any other type.
If you are given the wrong blood type during a transfusion, (by this I mean a type that is not transferable to your own) your own blood will reject it and may start to clott in your veins. If not caught this can cause organ failure and even death. You might be thinking "well this is something the doctors have to worry about, not me," but it still does not hurt to know what your own blood type is, as they may ask you anyways.
It's good to know what type you are, so if you don't know, ask a parent or other relative because they might be able to tell you. Failing that ask your doctor.
Basically, here is the types and what other blood they are capable of receiving:
A+ :: A+, A-, O+, O-
A- :: A-, O-
B+ :: B+, B-, O+, O-
B- :: B-, O-
O+ :: O+, O-
O- :: O-
AB+ :: AB-, A-, B-, O-
AB- :: AB+, AB-, A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-
AB- is the unversal receiver, O- is the universal donor.
Personally, I'm O- and I have known since I was little. I guess knowing that a blood transfusion can so easily go wrong, I've always kind of had it in my mind lol I have also donated blood before, so I'm aware of it I guess. But seriously, if you don't know what type you are, please try and find out for your own sake. If you DO know what type you are, maybe you'd like to discuss the matter?
The scary thing about it is (at least form my point of view), a blood transfusion can SO easily go wrong. One mislabeled bag of blood is all ti takes, and if you are one of the types that is not able to receive other blood, then you are really screwed.
The most common blood types are O+ and A+. Sometimes this can vary depending on what part of the world you are from, but in general the statistics are similar. The rarest type worldwide is AB-, this is also the type that can be given any other blood type if in need of a transfusion. O- is the universal donor, in that all other types can receive O-, however, an O- person cannot be given any other type.
If you are given the wrong blood type during a transfusion, (by this I mean a type that is not transferable to your own) your own blood will reject it and may start to clott in your veins. If not caught this can cause organ failure and even death. You might be thinking "well this is something the doctors have to worry about, not me," but it still does not hurt to know what your own blood type is, as they may ask you anyways.
It's good to know what type you are, so if you don't know, ask a parent or other relative because they might be able to tell you. Failing that ask your doctor.
Basically, here is the types and what other blood they are capable of receiving:
A+ :: A+, A-, O+, O-
A- :: A-, O-
B+ :: B+, B-, O+, O-
B- :: B-, O-
O+ :: O+, O-
O- :: O-
AB+ :: AB-, A-, B-, O-
AB- :: AB+, AB-, A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-
AB- is the unversal receiver, O- is the universal donor.
Personally, I'm O- and I have known since I was little. I guess knowing that a blood transfusion can so easily go wrong, I've always kind of had it in my mind lol I have also donated blood before, so I'm aware of it I guess. But seriously, if you don't know what type you are, please try and find out for your own sake. If you DO know what type you are, maybe you'd like to discuss the matter?
The scary thing about it is (at least form my point of view), a blood transfusion can SO easily go wrong. One mislabeled bag of blood is all ti takes, and if you are one of the types that is not able to receive other blood, then you are really screwed.
