Last week Laura Townsend was visiting with one of the Medical Advisory Board Members. They were talking about an incident where a family member noticed that the nurse was about to give the wrong type of blood to the patient. She thought to herself that the family member was being a really informed and an active participant in his mother’s healthcare. Then she began thinking she didn't know her own blood type or her children’s and she should figure that out for just these types of situations. She made a chart at home that listed the entire (including the extended) families' blood types. You'll never know when a situation will occur that you will need to provide that information quickly to a doctor or nurse.
Blood types are based on the antigens you receive from your parents. You can either have A, B, both A and B or neither, which result in types A, B, AB and O, respectively. Which antigens you have dictate which type you can donate or receive blood from. This chart explains:
| RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BLOOD TYPES AND ANTIBODIES |
| Blood Type | Antigens on Red Blood Cell | Can Donate Blood To | Antibodies in Serum | Can Receive Blood From |
| A | A | A, AB | Anti-B | A, O |
| B | B | B, AB | Anti-A | B, O |
| AB | A and B | AB | None | AB, O |
| O | None | A, B, AB, O | Anti-A and anti-B | O |
Chart from: http://www.answers.com/topic/blood-type#ixzz1C9vjmb1O
In an emergency, you may need to receive a blood transfusion.The hospital will check to make sure that you receive a compatible blood type (most likely the universal donor, O), but it’s still good to know your blood type in case type O is unavailable.
If you are having a planned surgery, a family member or friend may be able to donate to you should you need a blood transfusion during surgery. Because they will donate in advance, you won’t need to worry about receiving the wrong blood type or that there will be a shortage of blood.
January is National Blood Donor Month. Please consider donating to your local hospital or Red Cross, especially if you are blood type O. If youdon’t know your blood type, you’ll find out when you donate!