Question

You need a blood transfusion immediately but don't know your blood type. In this situation, what blood type will the EMT give you?

a. A negative
b. AB positive
c. O negative
d. O positive
e. B negative

Answer 1

In an emergency where a patient's blood type is unknown, type O negative blood is used for a transfusion because it is the universal donor and lacks A or B antigens, preventing immune response.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient requires an immediate blood transfusion and their blood type is unknown, type O negative blood would be transfused. This is because type O negative blood is considered the universal donor due to the lack of A or B antigens on the surface of its red blood cells (RBCs). This absence of antigens means that it can be safely given to any patient, regardless of their blood type, without the risk of an immune response due to antigen-antibody mismatch. However, in a non-emergency setting where there is time for testing, it is always preferable to use blood from a matching ABO and Rh type to avoid even minor transfusion reactions.