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Tap into your platelet power this winter. Donate platelets successfully four times from February 1 through May 31, 2012 and you’ll take home a $50 Visa gift card, along with an Americana themed platelet t-shirt or platelet water bottle.
Platelets may be the tiniest component in whole blood but that doesn't mean they aren't powerful! Platelets prevent massive blood-loss resulting from trauma, along with common blood vessel leakage that occurs in the course of day-to-day activity.
With a shelf life of only five days, platelets are a precious lifesaving component. Each day, hundreds of local patients require platelet transfusions to support them through treatments for cancer, burns, traumatic injuries and other life-threatening conditions. Platelets are also used in large quantities, and for extended periods of time, by leukemia, cancer and bone marrow transplant patients. Volunteer platelet donors are the only individuals who can ensure these patients have what they need, when they need it.
Platelet FAQ
A pint of whole blood contains less than an ounce of platelets, but these tiny clotting agents can make a huge difference to a critically ill patient.
They are absolutely vital to people recovering from cancer, leukemia, open-heart surgery and transplant surgery, as well as those who have blood disorders, including aplastic anemia. Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy often destroy healthy cells, these patients need platelet transfusions to prevent bleeding.
How does a platelet donation work?
Platelet donation or Apheresis (a-fe-REE-sis) can be done through a one-arm or two-arm procedure. Whole blood is drawn from a vein in one arm and channeled through a computerized cell separator machine, which collects the platelets. The remaining plasma and red blood cells are returned either through the same arm or the other one. After testing, your platelets will become available for critically ill patients.
Platelet donation takes a little longer than whole blood donation (approximately two hours), but it also allows you to donate more often because it removes only one component, rather than an entire pint of whole blood. Your platelets will regenerate within 24-48 hours.
What is the difference between platelets vs. whole blood?
It takes 7 to 10 whole blood donations to provide enough platelets for a single platelet transfusion. Obviously, a platelet donation is more efficient. More importantly, it is safer for the patient, who is exposed to only one donor instead of 7 to 10, greatly reducing the risk of antibody problems or possible infection.
Who can donate platelets?
To be a platelet donor you must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, have a good vein and not have taken aspirin or anything that has aspirin in it for 48 hours prior to donating.
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