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THE LIFESAVER CLUB

What are the components of Blood ?

Blood is made up of the following components :

  • Red Blood Corpuscles (RBCs)
  • White Blood Corpuscles (WBCs) – normally of no use outside the body.
  • Platelets
  • Plasma

What is the role played by Platelets ?

Whenever there is loss of blood due to rupture of a blood vessel or any other reason, Platelets help in formation of a Clot, thereby preventing further loss of Blood.

When are Platelets required ?

Platelets are required by :

  • Cancer patients
  • Marrow transplant patients
  • Organ transplant patients
  • Heart surgery patients
  • Leptospirosis patients
  • Dengue patients
  • Others

How can Platelets be obtained ?

  • By components separation from ‘Whole Blood’, which is collected during routine blood donation.
  • By collecting only Platelets from a Donor through a process called ‘Apheresis’.

How much is the Platelet component in the blood that is donated ?

Bulk of the blood that is collected in routine blood donation is Plasma and R.B.C.s. The quantity of Platelets in Whole Blood is very little (approx. 10%). This, in most cases, is not enough to meet the requirement of one patient.

What is RDP ?

To meet the requirement of one patient it becomes necessary to collect Platelets from Whole Blood from many donors. Therefore Platelets collected after separation during routine blood donation is called Random Donor Platelets (RDPs).

What is SDP ?

It is possible to collect only Platelets from the body by a process called Apheresis. In this process, the blood is drawn from a donor and sent through a sterile tubing system and machine. The machine harvests the Platelets and sends the other components back into the body of the donor. This process is repeated 6-8 times, at the end of which one gets the required quantity of Platelets from just one donor. The Platelets thus collected are called Single Donor Platelets (SDPs).

How much time will it take for SDP donation ?

The whole process will take about an hour and a half, during which period the donor can watch a film on television or read a book. Prior to donation the Donor will be required to submit a sample of his blood for testing. This could be done on the same day or on the previous day.

SDPs are good for the patient...

  • SDPs expose the patients to only one donor, therefore minimizing the risk of transmissible infections.
  • SDPs are more potent than RDPs. The increase in Platelet Count in the patient is 10 times more through transfusion of SDPs as against RDPs.

SDPs are good for the Donor...

  • Donor gives only Platelets, which get regenerated in 24 hours
  • There is no loss of RBCs, hence less taxing on the body than routine blood donation.
  • Allowed to donate Platelets again after just 3 days, unlike routine blood donation, which can be done again only after 3 months.

Need for SDPs

  • Platelets have life of only 5 days, hence should not be collected more than the immediate requirement.
  • Therefore Platelet donation should be done against a specific need.

The LIFESAVERSCLUB

It is necessary to have a Core Registry of Platelet Donors, who will be on call. Interested persons can call SBTC or Think Foundation. After filling up an Enrolment Form and making their Platelet Donation, they will become members of the LIFESAVERSCLUB.

What is special about the LIFESAVERSCLUB ?

  • Platelet donors are special. Their act of donating Platelets is absolutely life-saving. The LIFESAVERSCLUB is an exclusive club, which is the first of its kind in India.
  • Get-togethers, outings, programmes etc. will be organized for its members.

Who has instituted this Club ?

The LIFESAVERSCLUB has been instituted by the State Blood Transfusion Council, which is responsible for all blood transfusion activity in the state of Maharashtra.

Who will be responsible for co-ordination ?

Think Foundation, a non-governmental organization, will be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the LIFESAVERSCLUB. Think Foundation will maintain contact with Hospitals and patients needing Platelets, as well as with members of the LIFESAVERSCLUB. Activities will be organized for the members from time to time.

CALL WITHIN MUMBAI 6518 1341 / 6518 1343

Retrieved from "http://www.rotaractmumbaighatkopar.org/Lifesavers"
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