Blood Typing

[Love793]

Regardless of the needles, as a part of the job you should really know your blood type.  Go either to your family Doc or The Red Cross.  They can do it.  Or you can have it done at CFRS St Jean.  Even if it's not for the army, having your blood type at your disposal is not a bad thing.  It's time consuming in a hospital when they have to draw and test your blood, heaven forbid it happens.

As for needles, again part of the job.  I know guys who have been turned into pin cushions and others whom had only 5 or 6 over their careers.

 

[jonsey]

Donate blood. They'll test it, your blood will go to help someone (actually I believe every donation can help up to three people)

 

[Pugnacious]

Yes I found out donating blood, and in my case I got free Orange juice, and Pizza. ;D
I hope I was able to help someone with my donation.

Cheers!
P.

 

[BDTyre]

Seeing as I need to know my blood type before being sworn into the reserves, I've decided to go in Monday to get it done through a lab.

However, there's no way to ensure I'll have the result on by Thursday.  There are two donation clinics nearby, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday that I may or may not be able to make it to (depending on my schedule).

Worst case scenario, I don't have my blood type for my enrollment on Thursday.  Am I going to have to delay my enrollment, or can I simply give them this information afterwards?

I'll see what I'm told on Monday by the doctor, and if he says he can't promise anything by Thursday, I'll e-mail my recruiting officer at the unit.  I was just wondering in anyone else has been in this situation before.

 

[George Wallace]

Don't worry about it.  It is one test you won't have to study for.  If you don't have your Blood Type, they will find it for you.  They can take a quick blood sample, a simple prick of your finger, and determine it and it won't cost you a cent. 

 

[Inch]

Were you told you needed your blood type when you enrolled? If you were then waiting until the week of enrollment to find out your blood group was probably not the best idea.

I don't know that it's a huge concern, as long as you find out before you get your ID card and discs ordered then you should be fine.

 

[BDTyre]

GW, you make it sound so ominous...who is "they"? 

I wouldn't say I waited until the week of enrollment.  I was phoned by the unit late Thursday night and told only then that I needed my blood type.  Tried to find out yesterday before work, but I worked full shifts until Monday.  So I really wasn't left with much time.

 

[George Wallace]

...who is "they"?  

;D

Of course we are talking about "medical staff", but I am sure in a rush, the local Red Cross or a Clinic could do a quick test for you.

 

[swanita]

I work in a hospital & know that it only takes about an hour (from blood collection to testing & then results posted on our computer) for the typing, but obviously in civvie land we never get results that quick. However, just tell your doc (or where ever you decide to go) that if possible, to get results ASAP (or STAT in medical words  ;D)  Also i doubt that not knowing your blood type will hold up your enrollment.

 

[BDTyre]

Well, I'm going to do my best to get my type by Thursday.  I don't see why I can't, but can you blame for thinking worst case scenario considering how long its taken me to get this far?  ;D

Maybe my family doc will be so shocked and surprised (or I guess shock and awe in today's world) that I got in that he'll hurry it up just for me.

And yeah, it would be a good idea to have a hard copy of it at home.  In fact, I wasn't worried until now because up until now I though my mother would have had it somewhere.  Apparently not.

 

[beach_bum]

You will still be enrolled without your blood type.  Just get it as soon as possible. 

 

[patt]

;D

Of course we are talking about "medical staff", but I am sure in a rush, the local Red Cross or a Clinic could do a quick test for you.

Ya those quick tests only show the group it doesnt show weather is positive or negative. maybe going to your doctors and getting them to do a blood test is a good way

 

[George Wallace]

Just to add to this, way back when, I learned my blood type by going in and donating a pint.  The Red Cross then sends you a Donor Card with your Blood Type on it.  Of course due to some scandals in the past, I don't know if the new "Blood Agency" does the same or not.

 

[BDTyre]

Yeah.  I'm going to try my doctor first.  If he's too busy, I'll try to get to a donor clinic and tell them I'd really like to know my blood type.

I'm not sure if Blood Services still sends a card out.  I'd ask my dad, but I don't think he's donated in a while, and he started back when it was still under Red Cross.

 

[Gunner98]

Once enrolled, you have your blood type recorded prominently on your ID card and on your ID tags.  Your blood type is normally recorded on the outer jacket of your CF 2034.  If you are receiving medical attention and require blood, but don't have your ID card or ID disks (and they don't have your med docs), they will give you type-0 by default.  If you require a lot of blood they would take the time to do blood typing to be sure.

 

[BDTyre]

I just got my blood typed through MDS Metro.  If they are aware that it is for the CF, apparently you will not be billed if your provide a service number.  If you don't know your service number they will give you a billing number to call when you get your service number so you can avoid being billed.

 

[Gayson]

Let OHIP pay for it.

To get my type I told my doctor to check my blood for any diseases and such, and to guage my health from the quality of my blood.  When they called me to tell me I was fine I then asked what my blood type was.

 

[rz350]

I dont know my blood type, and I need it for my ID disc. Will they do a blood typing for me at BMQ/some other time, or do I need to go get it done on my own?

I'll be on weekend 32 brigade BMQ.

I searched about blood tests, but I get no real info, as its full of contradictions in the threads. I just want to know.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Go donate a pint. Look up Canadian Blood Services in the phone book for the clinic nearest you. They'll tell you what your blood type is.

 

[Good2Golf]

You had a medical already, right?  Your blood type would be on file in your medical documents.

G2G