By Caroline Carr
It’s a great feeling to get the notice that you’ve saved lives just by sitting in a chair for a couple of hours and donating platelets. I’ve been donating platelets for a year and it’s been the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had. Just knowing that my donation has helped children who are fighting cancer and people who have suffered trauma makes that two hours go by quickly. I keep a map where I can mark off each state where a donation has gone. It’s so much fun to see how far donations go and to find out what hospital is using them. So far my donations have made it to New Jersey, Philadelphia, West Virginia and Maryland.
I especially love when my platelets go to CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) because I know they are helping a child who is fighting cancer. We all know someone who has had cancer. If you’ve ever wondered what you can do to help, donate platelets. It’s very gratifying to be able to make a difference for a family that is living with so much pain.
What are platelets?
Platelets are a component of blood that assists with blood clotting. They are essential for people who are dealing with cancer, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries.
Every fifteen seconds someone needs platelets. Donors are needed every day because of this need and due to the short shelf life of platelets. They can only be stored for five days.
What is a donation like?
The whole process takes about two hours. First, a phlebotomist takes your vitals to make sure you can donate that day. Then you are shown to a very comfortable chair where you will sit for the duration of the donation. You have to sit still for the donation, but don’t worry! The Red Cross provides Netflix so you can relax and stream a movie you’ve been waiting to see. Or catch up on that series you’ve wanted to binge.
The phlebotomist will insert two needles, one in each arm, and hook that up to an apheresis machine. This machine filters out the platelets from your blood and then returns your blood to you in your return arm. Some donation centers can do a one arm donation where they stick your arm in two different places so you can give blood from one needle and receive the return in the second needle. However, most centers use both arms. You must keep your arms still during the donation so you won’t be able to read a book or use your cell phone.
Tips for donating
- You might get a little chilly because the blood being returned to you is a lower temperature. The center can provide a warm blanket for you to keep you warm during your donation.
- Sometimes I feel a little tingling in my mouth or upper lip. This is because of the citrate included in the return arm. This helps your blood to clot. If this happens, let your phlebotomist know right away and they can adjust the amount of citrate and give you Tums, which will alleviate the tingling.
- You can donate up to 24 times a year. Watch out, it becomes addictive once you donate. You will want to keep helping people and doing something that makes a huge difference in someone else’s life.
- Get a good night’s sleep and make sure to keep yourself hydrated a couple of days before you donate.
- Tell the staff if you feel any discomfort at all. There is usually a work around for whatever you are feeling.
- Keep thinking about all the lives you are saving!
Join the online support group
One of the best parts of donating is joining the online American Red Cross Platelet Donors Group on Facebook. There are so many supportive people out there who love donating as much as you will. They can give you great advice and encouragement to keep going. With over nine thousand members, they cheer each other on, give advice and it’s moderated by great volunteers who can answer any question you might have.
Platelet donation is a great way to give back. It really does help a lot of people in need. It’s a fun experience and you will find great support to keep doing it. So don’t wait! Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App today and make an appointment. You’ll be happy you did, and so will someone else!
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