ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

SS blood group tattoo

Have you ever seen a temporary tattoo that you can put on your arm or on your cheek? There is something called a "ss blood group tattoo" that works in a similar way.

Your blood has something called a blood group, which tells doctors what type of blood you have. There are different blood groups, like A, B, AB, and O. But there is also another blood group called "ss," which means you have sickle cell trait.

Sickle cell trait is a condition where some of your red blood cells are the wrong shape. Instead of being round like they should be, they are shaped like a crescent moon or a sickle. This can cause health problems if you don't take care of yourself.

In some places, like the military or in sports, it's important to know if someone has sickle cell trait, because they might need extra care or precautions. That's where the ss blood group tattoo comes in.

The tattoo looks like a regular temporary tattoo, but instead of being a fun design, it has the letters "SS" on it. This tells doctors or coaches that the person has sickle cell trait, so they can make sure that the person is safe and healthy.

So, the ss blood group tattoo is like a special sticker or label that tells people that you have sickle cell trait. It helps keep you safe by making sure that the people around you know about your condition.