Bay Area Edition | June 2022

INSIDE INFORMATION

2022 HEALTH CARE EDITION

BRINGING IN BLOOD

COMPILED BY WESLEY GARDNER & JAKE MAGEE

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, an area nonprot 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

37.4% 6.6%

44%

Recipient

35.7% 6.3%

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 u symptoms. Donors who have COVID-19 or a positive test for COVID-19 must wait 10 days and be

42%

8.5% 1.5%

Clear Lake Neighborhood Donor Center 1153 Clear Lake City Blvd., Houston 281-447-0053 HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake on July 7 495 Medical Center Blvd., Webster 281-338-3799 City of League City on July 11 400 W. Walker St., League City 281-554-1025

Clear Lake Islamic Center on July 15 17511 El Camino Real, Houston 281-480-3325 Clear Creek Community Church on July 17 999 Egret Bay Blvd., League City 832-385-9467 Clear Lake Church of the Nazarene on July 20 14310 Galveston Road, Webster 281-486-9581

10%

3.4% 0.6%

RH+ 85%

RH- 15%

asymptomatic prior to donating. Donors must bring a valid photo ID.

For a complete list of donation sites, visit www.commitforlife.org .

SOURCES: AMERICAN RED CROSS, GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER, STANFORD MEDICINE BLOOD CENTERCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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BAY AREA EDITION • JUNE 2022