What’s your type? CHRISTUS Health encourages blood donation

January is National Blood Donor Month, and CHRISTUS Health encourages the community to learn about the importance of donation, how it helps to save lives and to donate blood.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the U.S. is in need of blood or platelets every two seconds.

“National Blood Donor Month is an opportunity to spread awareness and education of how important donating blood is,” said Danielle Jester, clinical laboratory scientist for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth. “Whether you’re a one-time donor or regular donor, you can help hospitals have the resources they need to care for patients in critical situations.”

Blood donations are essential for patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care and other medical procedures. Blood bank specialists determine blood type based on whether you have antigen A or B on your red blood cells. They also look for a protein called the Rh factor. They classify your blood type as positive (+) if you have this protein and negative (-) if you don’t.

Understanding blood types can help people recognize the importance of their donation.

• O Negative: Known as the universal blood type, can be given to patients of any blood type and is crucial in emergencies.
• O Positive: The most common blood type, often used in trauma care and surgeries.
• AB Positive: Known as the universal recipient, can safely receive blood from any other blood type. The AB+ blood type recognizes all potential antigens as safe, so your immune system doesn’t launch an attack. Frequently used for transfusions and in the treatment of specific medical conditions.
• AB Plasma Donors: AB plasma is universal and can be used for patients of all blood types.

“Each blood type plays a different but vital role in saving lives,” Jester said. “By donating, you ensure that hospitals have the right type of blood available when it’s needed most.”

Anyone interested in donating blood can find local blood drives through community centers, hospitals and blood banks.

“CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - St. Elizabeth does a great job of partnering with local blood banks to host blood drives, making the process easy for anyone willing to donate,” Jester said. “We are hosting our next blood drive at the hospital on Tuesday, Jan. 23, to provide an opportunity for the community to contribute to this cause.”

Jester encourages donors of all blood types and ethnicities to consider blood donation.

“One blood donation can potentially save up to three lives,” Jester said. “The need for blood is constant, and it’s a small act that can have a big impact on someone’s life in our community."