pdf Become a Platelet Donor - Scottish National Blood Transfusion ...

WELCOMEDid you know, as well as collecting blood,the Scottish National Blood TransfusionService (SNBTS) also collect platelets?We are always looking for people tobecome platelet donors. Please read thefollowing information to see if you can help.WHAT ARE PLATELETS?Platelets are a component of blood, essential to stopbruising and bleeding.WHO NEEDS PLATELETS?Patients all over Scotland need platelets.This includescancer and leukaemia patients, premature babies andemergency admissions. Platelets have the shortestshelf life of all blood components, lasting only 5 days.This means we face a constant urgent need forplatelets and platelet donors.CAROL’S STORYWHO CAN GIVE PLATELETS?Platelet donors are normally:- existing blood donors under 60 years of age- blood group O or A- able to donate in your local donor centre everyfour to six weeks, and can spare up to two hourseach time (the platelet process puts red cells backin your body, so you can leave 4 weeks in betweendonations, rather than the twelve weeks in betweenwhole blood donations).We have a specialist platelet team, to help find out ifyou will be able to donate platelets.This team will giveyou a brief interview and check your own plateletcount. Please ask to speak to a member of this team,or call us on 0845 30 17 2 70 for more information.HOW DO I GIVE PLATELETS?You can give platelets in our Blood Donor Centre.The process is very similar to giving blood, but weuse specialist equipment called a cell separatormachine. It’s painless and takes about 90 minutes.Platelet donors can give more often than whole blooddonors, so we ask you to donate about once a monthvia an appointments system.THANK YOU!Carol developed life threatening complicationsduring pregnancy and suffered serious internalbleeding during a Caesarean birth. Says Carol,“Jack was safely delivered, weighing a healthy5lbs 15oz. But in the hours following the labour,I needed nineteen blood transfusions and twodoses of platelets. It’s only thanks to the miracles ofmodern medicine, and of course blood and plateletdonors, that my little boy has his mum here today.”Platelet donors are very special people – there arejust over 1,000 platelet donors in the whole ofScotland.The patients who need your platelets cannotthank you personally. So on their behalf, thank you!0845 30 17 2 70www.scotblood.co.uk