Press release from the American Red Cross:
Local Residents to be Honored for Milestone Platelet Donations
Red Cross distributes awards to platelet pheresis donorsOn Wednesday, August 4, the American Red Cross will honor local platelet pheresis donors at the annual Platelet Pheresis Appreciation Banquet for their outstanding support of blood donation. Combined, these donors have given over 12,834 platelet products this past year. A single platelet donation can take as long as two hours to complete.
Five categories of awards will be presented. Milestone awards recognize donors who have donated 100, 200, 300 and 400 platelet donations in their lifetime. Another category recognizes donors who have given 24 times in one year, the most platelet donations a person can donate in a year. Each donor will receive a gift in appreciation for their commitment. These gifts were made possible this year by a generous donation from Fort Wayne Medical Oncology and Hematology and Classic Products.
Platelet products are primarily used by cancer patients. When a patient has extensive chemotherapy, the production of blood cells is affected and the platelet count may drop to a critical level. “This is just one of the reasons why platelet donation is important,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Platelet pheresis uses a cell separator to collect only platelets and returns the other blood components back to the donor. The number of platelets collected through platelet pheresis is as many as six to 24 times the amount collected in a traditional whole blood donation,” said Whitman.
The Platelet Pheresis Appreciation Banquet will take place at Ceruti’s Summit Park. Banquet registration and dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with program to start at 6 p.m. Media are invited to attend; please call (260) 480-8220 if interested.
How to Donate Platelets
If you are 18 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in good general health, you may be eligible to donate platelet pheresis. Please call 1-800-589-8127 to schedule your platelet pheresis donation appointment. Â websiteAbout the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.
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