Your blood group

[sheddy]

I don't think any Doc will choose a blood group based on what is written in your wallet, car or helmet (I hope)

 

[Bollo]

O Neg here as well - gettin' high on my own supply!

Used to donate but had to stop for a few years after an illness. I really should start up again.

 

[kyuss]

I haven't a clue what mine is, and it's been tested enough recently after discovering a bleeding disorder. Thing is, having your blood group on your helmet or even a medical bracelet will make no difference. No medical professional in their right mind would give you blood based on what you think you know. The consequences of getting it wrong are far too great. You'll only ever be given blood after testing or checking of your medical records.

 

[Mark Grant]

A+
Found that out when I joined the Army at 18.
It was quite common for squaddies to have thier blood group tatooed on thier arm.

 

[Becs]

0 neg, I donate every 3 months (ish). I agree though, no doc is going to give you anything other than O neg without cross-matching 1st. I reckon those card/bracelet thingies should include allergies, next of kin info and a donor card!

 

[slowmotion]

I have no idea, but I used to know. At school , we had a science lesson and were all given a styret (?) to jab into the soft tissue beside the thumb nail in order to get a sample for testing. I couldn't do it, but had no trouble getting a friend to. Strange really. I think my blood group was pretty un-exotic. These days, I imagine that they can get an answer within seconds at A&E, so having a sticker on your helmet is , perhaps, "a bit Kate Adie"?

Maximum respect to the blood donors.

 

[Keith Oates]

I used to give blood when I lived in the UK but am not sure now what it was/is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[slugonabike]

I haven't a clue what mine is, and it's been tested enough recently after discovering a bleeding disorder. Thing is, having your blood group on your helmet or even a medical bracelet will make no difference. No medical professional in their right mind would give you blood based on what you think you know. The consequences of getting it wrong are far too great. You'll only ever be given blood after testing or checking of your medical records.

Absolutely right. I've even seen patients who have had a 'proper' blood group test having a different result when next tested (we never found out whether the first test was wrong or whether the wrong paperwork was sent) so even checking your records is not foolproof. Plus the fact that every unit you are given has to be 'cross matched' to ensure that none of the other antibodies present react with yours (the ABO and rhesus being only some of those antibodies).

 

[Kestevan]

Haven't a clue.

Not sure there's enough blood in my alchohol stream to want to find out either.

 

[asterix]

When some guy at school needed the stuff we all got tested because he was in a very rare group. Fortunately I'm not.

I think putting it on the back of your helmet is playing the drama queen. Sorry.

 

[Maizie]

A+

There's no point in having it on your person, your helmet, or wherever, in the UK. They will check your blood group before they give you a blood transfusion - you might be wearing somebody else's helmet, or wristband, or that blood donor card in your wallet might not actually be yours. So they take the time to check it, rather than risk it on your say so, which is absolutely fair enough.

On the other hand, if it makes a driver think of you as human and decide not to spill your blood, it might be no bad thing.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

O+ and as common as muck... but then more people need my blood type than any other, so in a way I'm still special...

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I was cycling home this evening when passed a another cyclist.
On the back of his helmet was a sticker with his blood group.

Now I am ashamed to say that I don't know my blood group. With the amount of cycling I do it is probably something I really should know.

How many of you out there know what your blood group is?

I don't, but for (eg) rallying you need to have it on the outside of the car. I remember one driver was that rare that he needed to donate his own blood just in case - can't remember the details but it was one of the long names - something like ABO- (if this even exists ) - was that cyclist one of the 'odd' types perhaps?
My memory is a bit sketchy now but can anyone have O- or do some people (like my above anecdote) need to have more special types - if so I'd imagine it might make sense to broadcast the fact.

I think I'm under the minimum weight limit anyway for donating (and no, I'm not anorexic or size zero!)

I am however on the bone marrow registry, on the small chance that one day I'll match someone.

 

[slugonabike]

O+ and as common as muck... but then more people need my blood type than any other, so in a way I'm still special...

Me too, although I can't give any more because of my long-term medication.

 

[yello]

I can't give blood here in France. It's forbidden because I've lived in the UK. Mad cows you see.... and I'm not just taking about Margaret Thatcher!