common as blood!

[emmagreeny]

I have a rare blood type and someone told me it wouldn't be needed as much as the common ones for obvious reasons. Should I still go?if so how often?

[wildwood]

I would have thought that your rare blood would be much sought after.... for obvious reasons.

[emmagreeny]

That's what I thought,untill someone pointed out that, If it is so rare then the chances are that very few people would be in need of it,so stock would not need replenishing as often.

[kags]

I would contact the National Blood Service for asvice, i am sure they will not want to lose you as a potential donor. click here

[emmagreeny]

Thanks Kags.I have not seen that site before. It even has a page with the current stock levels. The commonest blood type has 18000 units,were as my blood type only has 210 units.Maybe they don't need as much,but call me selfish what happens if I need some and its on a quiet blood doning day.

[kags]

I guess that's all the more reason to go and donate, I reckon they'll be delighted when you turn up!

[andy hughes]

Absolutely you should donate - blood only keeps for three weeks, and the rarer it is, the less chance of any being available when needed. The BDS will be happy to see anyone, with any group, so if you don;t go any of you, now's a good time to start.

[sddsddean]

I think they keep a record of 'rare' blood donors, so that should they need any quick they would ask you to drop into your local hospital and give a pint (350g actually) and then whisk it off in one of their response cars to the recipient.

[norfolk boy]

my wife has rare blood and gives to the blood service.She is often reminded how important it is for her to donate so they always have a supply available.

[Mr Bear]

You didn't say what your group was. Here in Australia, the Red Cross Blood Service is always running short of the more common groups. I am sure your blood service will have you noted on their books as a rare one but you syhould ask them or your doctor for advice!.Interestingly I have O-negative blood which is unusual in that I can give my blood to anyone but I can only receive O negative (seems so unfair) In Australia less than 10 percent have O negative blood so that is why they are always after me but we are only allowed to give blood every three months here and then there is a quite exhaustive checking process to go through. The amount taken here is about 400ml. I have donated about 25 times. It is a great community service. In the US they pay for blood but we are not allowed to do that in Australia for obvious reasons.

[Moog]

As Wildwood says it's the other way round, the rarer your blood group the more sort after, my grandfather had a rare blood type and donated blood all his life, as he got older the National Blood Service would send a car to pick him up and take him to the donation centre they were so desparate for his blood type, but regardless of blood group we should all give blood, costs you nothing, doesn't really hurt and you get a free cuppa, a chocolate bourbon [if you get there early enough) and an enormous sense of well being.

[emmagreeny]

Hello everyone. Thanks for all of your support. It pushed me into going and finding out once and for all and yes it seems they did want my blood,but it seems to me that they would be greatful for any and certainly wouldn't turn it down. They tell me they had me on file,right under my grandma's name!for emergancys. When I told her she didn't look at all suprised and then she told me she knew as she used to give blood all time time! It seemed to me the fates had spoken and I was straight out of that door to donate. After all what if it was my gran that needed it and I hadn't done my bit?

[heartache]

I have a rare blood too so go and give some incase i need it sometime lol. I would say give blood you never know when you or a family member might just need it to save there life

[chase Oren]

From a biological perspective, a rare blood type can only be used for otherrare blood types, whereas those with O are by far more useful because this type of blood cell can adapt freely to any type of blood. So O blood can be administered to someone with any blood group, its a "universal" blood. AB, for example, can only be administered to those with AB.

[man utd mrs]

I agree with chase oren. I am a blood donor and I was told that whilst they want everyone to donate,O neg is the one they want most of,due to it being able to be used for everyone.

[man utd mrs]

Group 'O' negative blood is the blood for emergencies Group 'O' is also special in that, in rhesus negative form, it can be given to both rhesus positive and rhesus negative people. In an emergency, when lives may depend on transfusions and there may be no time to test a patient's blood group, 'O' rhesus negative blood is a life saver. Group 'O' blood can save the Lives of newborn babies Babies born with blood disorders may need a transfusion right away, but it can be difficult to determine their blood group. Here again, 'O' rhesus negative blood is of crucial importance since it may be used to transfuse newborn infants or even babies in the womb. Group 'O' blood may seem ordinary but it is very special 'O' is not for ordinary ! (Taken from National blood service leaflet)

[davver]

There is a cracking episode of Hancock's Half Hour called The Blood Donor. Our hero (for it is he) goes to give blood and turns out to be the incredibly rare AB+. However when he gets home he is feeling a bit faint. Whilst making a sandwich to buck himself up, the knife slips and before you can say 'ironic' he is in an ambulance being rushed to hosiptal, losing a lot of blood. "What blood type is he?" "AB+" Fortunately the hopsital has just one pint... A lesson for us all, methinks! In a world where everyone seems to be trying to get something for nothing, blood donation is a great example of people giving something for nothing and is wholly admirable, brave super and noble cheers cheers cheers.

[davver]

PS What goes around comes around.

[mowgli]

O negative blood can be given to anyone. But I believe people with this type can only receive their own type. It works the other way round for AB positive, which is known as the'universal receiver' due to the fact that people with this group can receive any blood type but can only give to fellow AB pos people. Who ironically wouldn't be dependant on it. I think the blood service would generally encourage anyone to give blood, as I think they prefer to give 'like for like', but mainly because blood has a limited shelf life.

[rockgirl]

I just found out I have a rare group too, the NBS asked me to go on the database, and Im only to happy to donate my "special" blood to others in cases of emergency, but I think it is essential to donate some more anyway because they can keep some for me too!  Just in case!

[AEROsmith]

Once every three months is the maximum. Look at http://www.blood.co.uk

 

Giving blood is a well needed service and everyone that can do it should do it as often as they can.