Who Needs Platelets and How to Help
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When we think about our blood, it’s easy to focus on red blood cells, but did you know there are actually three other main components that make our blood… blood?
In addition to red blood cells, we have plasma, white blood cells and platelets running through our veins. Plasma is easy enough to remember – that’s the liquid part. White blood cells help our bodies fight off infections and diseases. But what about platelets?
In this blog, we discuss how platelet donations save lives and where you can go to help.
What are platelets?
Platelets, or thrombocytes, are microscopic, disc-shaped cells that are produced in our bone marrow and are critical to the body’s ability to form clots and stop bleeding.When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets rush to the site, adhering to the vessel's walls and to each other to form a temporary "plug." They also release chemical signals that attract more platelets to the site, amplifying the clotting process. Without platelets, even a minor cut could lead to excessive bleeding, making these tiny cells crucial for survival.
Who needs platelets?
Someone in the United States is in need of platelets every 15 seconds. Platelet transfusions are commonly needed for people undergoing treatments or specific conditions that affect their ability to produce or maintain an adequate number of platelets.
People who often depend on platelet transfusions include:
- Cancer patients: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage the bone marrow, leading to a low platelet count, also known as thrombocytopenia. This makes cancer patients particularly susceptible to bleeding, necessitating platelet transfusions to reduce the risk.
- Surgical and trauma patients: Patients recovering from major surgery or traumatic injury often require platelet transfusions to control bleeding and support recovery.
- Bone marrow transplants: Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants rely on platelets due to their compromised ability to adequately produce them.
- Chronic blood disorders: Patients with certain blood-related conditions, such as aplastic anemia, depend on regular platelet transfusions to manage their disease.
Who can donate platelets?
Platelet donation has a few extra requirements to make sure you’re a good fit. The ideal donor is:
- Healthy and feeling well.
- Weighs at least 110 pounds.
- Has never been pregnant.
- Hasn’t taken aspirin in the last 48 hours.
Additional general guidelines include being at least 16 years old, having no recent infections or surgeries and meeting certain travel and medication criteria. Always check with your local donation center for detailed requirements.
What is the platelet donation process?
Donating platelets involves a process called apheresis, where blood is drawn from one arm, and a machine separates the platelets from other blood components. The remaining blood is then returned to the donor's body. The process typically takes about two to three hours, and donors can give platelets more frequently than whole blood.
Where to donate platelets
Interested in donating platelets? You can usually donate at a blood center or a mobile blood drive near you.
If you're in Oklahoma and are thinking about giving platelets, consider Our Blood Institute, the primary blood supplier for the state. OBI exclusively services more than 95 percent of Oklahoma’s hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances, including INTEGRIS Health.
Platelet donors who give through OBI can receive exclusive gifts for being part of the organization’s Proud Platelet Program. Just make a successful platelet donation to join the program. The more you donate, the more rewards you'll receive.
