O Goodness

The pandemic is a war, and our objective is survival.  Many have asked what they can do to help the war effort.  One way is to donate.  I’m not asking for your money.  I’m asking for your blood.    

A chronic blood shortage has existed throughout the pandemic, but blood becomes even scarcer during surges.  There are several reasons for this.  People are reluctant to leave home.  Work from home and distance learning reduces the yield of blood drives at businesses and universities.  The health and safety measures necessitated by the pandemic reduce the rate at which donors who can be processed.  All these factors result in less blood available for patients who need it.  

Red blood cells are important because they carry the oxygen which fuels the body.  Concentrations of red blood cells are given to patients who need a boost in their oxygen carrying capacity; sometimes this boost is lifesaving.

But it’s not as simple as taking blood from one person and giving it to another.  Among other things, blood must be tested for compatibility.  Every individual has a blood type, which corresponds to antigens on their red cells.  Think of antigens as little self-destruct buttons on the cell surface.  These buttons are imaginatively named A and B. There are four possible configurations of antigens, and these correspond to a person’s blood type.  If you have only A antigens on your red cells, you are blood type A.  If you have only B antigens only, you are blood type B.  If you have both A and B antigens, you are blood type AB.  And if you have no antigens, you are blood type O.  

The buttons are pressed by antibodies floating in the liquid part of your blood.  When the buttons are pressed, the red cells self-destructs (“hemolysis”).  Don’t worry; your body can’t trigger the buttons on red cells made by your body.  But your antibodies can trigger the destruction of red cells received during a transfusion.  When transfused red cells self-destruct all at once, you have a reaction, and you could die.  That’s why we want to know your blood type before transfusion.  We need to make sure that the blood you get is compatible with you.  

It turns out that if you are blood type A, you have B antibodies, meaning you can’t have any blood cells with B buttons.  If you are blood type B, you have A antibodies, meaning you can’t have any blood cells with A buttons.  If you are blood type AB, you don’t have any antibodies; you can get anybody’s blood (lucky you!).  If you are blood type O, you have both A and B antibodies, so you can only get type O blood.  But the cool thing about type O people is that there are no self-destruct buttons on their red cells.  That’s why we call blood type O individuals “universal donors”—they can give their blood to anyone.  In the blood bank world, O is good.

Type O blood is especially important in emergencies since there may not be time to test blood type before transfusion.  At those times, type O blood is given immediately.  O blood saves lives.  

Our blood supply depends on the goodness of people.  Since donation is the only source of blood, there’s just one reason blood is available for patients who need.  It’s because someone took the time to give their blood voluntarily.  About 45% of Americans are blood type O.  If that’s you, you’re special.  If that’s not you, we need your blood too.  Having a supply of all blood types preserves type O blood for emergencies and for patients who can have no other type.

It may take a little extra time to donate during the pandemic, but your donation is needed now more than ever.  It costs nothing but your time.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve had COVID-19, been vaccinated, or not.  Please consider making an appointment at a donation center now. 

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, make an appointment here.  Otherwise, find a blood center in your area here.