INSIDE INFORMATION
BY WESLEY GARDNER
BRINGING IN BLOOD
The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, an area nonprofit that provides blood to Houston and its surrounding communities, is nearing a shortage of blood supplies for the roughly 170 hospitals it serves across 26 Texas counties. Here is a look at how blood donations are used and how residents can help.
DONOR DILEMMA
BLOOD TYPE BREAKDOWN
TRACKING TRANSFUSIONS
According to the GCRBC, the percentage of Americans who will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives greatly outweighs the percentage of Americans who donate blood.
There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the surface of red blood cells. Additionally, the presence or absence of a protein called the Rh factor determines whether the blood type is positive or negative.
Rh-negative blood can only be given to Rh-negative patients, while Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood types can be given to Rh-positive patients, meaning O-negative blood types can be given to all four blood groups, and patients with an AB-negative blood type can receive blood from all four groups.
1 in 20 people will donate blood at some point in their life. 1 in 7 people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life.
BLOOD TYPES by percent of U.S. population
Donor
O
A
B
AB
37.4% 6.6%
+
O
-
44%
Recipient
O
A
B
AB
+
35.7% 6.3%
A
The GCRBC has 17 permanent donor centers across Southeast Texas in addition to mobile blood drives hosted across the area on a daily basis. WHERE TO DONATE?
Anyone who is age 17 or older may be eligible to donate blood. Individuals who are 16 years old may be eligible to donate with parental consent. WHO CAN DONATE? Donors who are age 19 and older must weigh at least 110 pounds. Whole-blood donors who are age 16 must weigh at least 120 pounds. Whole-blood and automated donors who are ages 17-18 and male must weigh at least 115 pounds; female donors must weigh at least 120 pounds. Donors must be in general good health without any cold or flu symptoms. Donors who have COVID-19 or a positive test for COVID-19 must wait 10 days and be
-
42%
8.5% 1.5%
+
B
-
Champions Donor Center 6935 FM 1960 W., Ste. A, Houston 281-440-5900 Conroe Neighborhood Donor Center 2125 N. Loop 336 W., Conroe 936-760-3345 Cy-Fair Donor Center 11811 FM 1960 W., Ste. 120, Houston 281-469-1964 For a complete list of donation sites, visit www.commitforlife.org .
Cypress Neighborhood Donor Center 15050 Fairfield Village Square Drive, Ste. 105, Cypress 832-334-4880 Humble/Kingwood Donor Center 9616 FM 1960 W., Humble 281-446-5955 The Woodlands Donor Center 3091 College Park Drive, Ste. 130,
10%
+
3.4% 0.6%
AB
-
4%
RH+ 85%
RH- 15%
asymptomatic prior to donating. Donors must bring a valid photo ID.
The Woodlands 936-321-8440
SOURCES: AMERICAN RED CROSS, GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER, STANFORD MEDICINE BLOOD CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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CY-FAIR EDITION • APRIL 2022
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