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- blood types can be given to all four blood groups, and patients with an AB- 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. Bill T. Teague Donor Center 1400 La Concha Lane, Houston 713-791-6620 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
-
Pearland Neighborhood Donor Center 9223 W. Broadway St. Ste. 119, Pearland 713-436-7722 Sugar Land Neighborhood Donor Center 4949 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land 281-313-1122 Westchase Neighborhood Donor Center 10001 Westheimer Road, Ste. 2117, Houston 832-242-7600
10%
+
3.4% 0.6%
Champions Donor Center 6935 FM 1960 W., Ste. A, Houston 281-440-5900 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 .
AB
-
4%
RH+ 85%
RH- 15%
asymptomatic prior to donating. Donors must bring a valid photo ID.
SOURCES: AMERICAN RED CROSS, GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER, STANFORD MEDICINE BLOOD CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • APRIL 2022
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