Platelet donors needed! ImpactLife looks to improve supply

Published by Kirby Winn on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in News Releases

ImpactLife is putting out a call for additional platelet donors following a recent drop in platelet donations. Through April 30, first-time and second-time platelet donors are offered a voucher to redeem for a $50 electronic gift card, bonus points to use in the ImpactLife Donor Rewards Store, or an equivalent value donation to Best Friends Animal Society. (Returning platelet donors who are giving platelets for the third time or greater are offered a voucher to redeem for a $25 electronic gift card.)

To schedule, please call (800) 747-5401, schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).

Platelets must be used within seven days of collection, so there is an ongoing need for daily platelet donations across the ImpactLife service region.

How platelets are used in patient care

Platelets are the component of blood that helps stop bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets help stop or prevent bleeding by moving within the circulatory system to the damaged area. After collecting in the damaged area, platelets extend fibers, changing their shape to form a clot and stop bleeding.

Learn more here!

Some people can develop a condition called thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, due to cancer or other underlying causes. Patients with thrombocytopenia might bruise easily, experience internal bleeding, or be unable to stop bleeding because their body doesn’t produce enough platelets. Platelets are frequently given to patients with thrombocytopenia, and with patients in treatment for cancer, for open heart surgery, organ and bone marrow transplants, and with victims of trauma.

Tara Erpelding, Director of the Eastern Iowa MercyOne / Genesis Cancer Center, speaks to the importance of red blood cell and platelet transfusions for patients in treatment for cancer.

Longtime platelet donor Jim Parker has those recipients in mind when he comes to the Donor Center every two weeks. “Every time you donate, you either save a life or you extend someone’s life,” said Parker. “What could be better than that?”

Platelet donation process

Platelet donations are made through a process called apheresis (AY fir EE sis), which refers to equipment at the side of the donation chair that separates blood components. During the donation, a small quantity of blood is drawn from the donor into a centrifuge that separates the components of blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma). Platelets are diverted into the collection bag and the remaining components are returned to the donor. This process is repeated until the appropriate volume of platelets are collected. This can take an hour more, depending on the donor’s platelet count and other factors.

ImpactLife Donor Promotions (April 1-30)

This month's featured item in the ImpactLife Donor Rewards Store is a retro-styled travel umbrella. Value of the electronic gift card or donation to Best Friends Animal Society will depend on the donor's donation type:

• Whole blood procedure - at CENTERS and MOBILES
  • $10 gift card, $10 donation OR 500 points
• Double red procedures; plasma only procedures
  • $25 gift card, $25 donation OR 1,500 points
• Platelet procedure (donor has given platelets 2+ times previously with ImpactLife)
  • $25 gift card, $25 donation OR 1,500 points
• Platelet procedure (donor's first or second attempt to ever give platelets with ImpactLife)
  • $50 gift card, $50 donation OR 3,000 points

Good Giving: supporting Best Friends Animal Society through June 30

Donors who come to give blood with ImpactLife April 1 - June 30, 2024 will receive a voucher to redeem for bonus points, an electronic gift card, OR a donation to Best Friends Animal Society.

Best Friends Animal Society is working across the country to give pets a second chance and happy homes. Their partner network is comprised of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like ours across the country.

To learn more about our Good Giving program, see www.bloodcenter.org/goodgiving.

Learn about ImpactLife's support for canine blood transfusions

About ImpactLife

ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood services to more than 120 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. Services extend from southcentral Wisconsin to St. Louis, Missouri and from Danville, Illinois to Chariton, Iowa. (See a map of the ImpactLife service region.) ImpactLife operates 23 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed for patient transfusions at hospitals throughout our region.

For more information on blood inventories and donor promotions, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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