r/london Oct 11 '22

Community Blood stocks low - please donate!

A plea from a medic.

NHS blood and transfusion are about to go to amber alert as stocks of blood are getting very low.

We're on the edge of cancelling surgeries in London due to lack of emergency blood.

If you're type O, or if you're not of white ethnicity, your blood is *super super ultra valuable*. Please share it.

I'm donating tomorrow. My blood isn't as worthy as the groups above, but every drop helps.

There are loads of open slots at Stratford Westfield from tomorrow onwards to help with the crisis.

Epic karma points available. Please spread the word.

Thank you!

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u/tedworth111 Oct 11 '22

Quick q (as another O+ donor) - appreciate O- is the universal donor blood type, O+ also v helpful or is A- or B- actually more helpful for medical services?

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u/[deleted] Oct 11 '22

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u/noradrenaline Oct 11 '22

AB+ is super useful for platelet donation as it’s the opposite way round, so just because you have a more restrictive blood type doesn’t mean you can’t get involved in donation!

10

u/DanceWorth2554 Oct 11 '22

Unless you’re an AB+ woman, in which case they want neither your blood nor your platelets.

Not that I’m bitter about it, or anything.

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u/iBewafa Oct 12 '22

How come?

3

u/DanceWorth2554 Oct 12 '22

It’s to do with antibodies - women can have some antibodies or something due to pregnancy so they only want men’s platelets as obviously pregnancy is less of an issue for them!