Those with O positive blood can only receive transfusions from O positive or O negative blood types.

Type O positive blood is critical in trauma care. The risk of reaction is much lower in ongoing blood loss situations and O positive is more available than O negative.

In major traumas with massive blood loss, many hospitals transfuse O positive blood, even when the patient’s blood type is unknown.

Learn more about how you can be a Hero for a Baby.

O positive donors who are CMV negative are known as Heroes for Babies at the Red Cross because it is the safest blood for transfusions for immune deficient newborns.

That’s another reason it’s in such high demand.

Over 80% of the population has a positive blood type and can receive O positive blood.

O positive red blood cells are not universally compatible to all types, but they are compatible to any red blood cells that are positive (A+, B+, O+, AB+).

38% of the population has O positive blood, making it the most common blood type.Type O positive blood is given to patients more than any other blood type, which is why it’s considered the most needed blood type.

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