Donating Blood
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Donating blood is one of the easiest ways to help cancer patients. It’s an ongoing need as red blood cells can only be stored for 42 days and platelets for 5 days.
The first recorded blood transfusion was in 1492, when the Pope (Pope Innocent VIII) was transfused. In 1901, the first human blood types (A,B and O) were documents by Austrian physician, Karl Landsteiner. The fourth blood type, AB was documented in 1902 by Decatsrello and Sturli.
From 1995-1999 the U.S. government put into place regulations to increase the safety of donated blood including testing to identify genetic viruses such as HIV and HCV.
Blood Types
Break down of Blood Types in The United States
- O positive 38%
- O negative 7%
- A positive 34%
- A negative 6%
- B positive 9%
- B negative 2%
- AB positive 3%
- AB negative 1%
Source,The American Red Cross, 2007.
The Universal Donor Theory?
Per the Mayo Clinic: “There is no universal blood donor type. Donated blood is routinely classified by type as A, B, AB or O, and as Rh positive or Rh negative. In the past, people with Type O/Rh negative blood were considered universal blood donors. This implied that anyone, regardless of blood type, could receive Type O/Rh negative blood without risking a transfusion reaction.” However now it is understood that even this type of donor could cause reactions.
Tina Radcliffe spent ten years as a Oncology Certified R.N. working with in-patients on oncology and med-surg units. She also has a background in home health and geriatrics. Her other experiences include ... .. 
