Changing lives one platelet at a time is what the SANBS in Northmead aims to do since introducing platelet machines in 2015.
The donations have been such a success that one of the first two Benoni platelet donors, Andrew Leece, prepped to donate for the 200th time recently.
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He was not alone because his friend, Glen Whitford, who was the other donor during the launch on May 15, also prepped to donate for the 238 time.
Thirty years ago, Andrew’s nephew was diagnosed with leukaemia at the tender age of three years old. This is when he became a donor, but he encouraged Glen to join him and together the two never stopped donating.
While this is a milestone for both men and SANBS, there are only about 100 platelet donors and the blood service needs more, so their aim is to reach about 150 during 2019.
The two platelet machines utilised in the Northmead SANBS vicinity are named after the two Benonians.
“Platelets are a small colourless fluid in the blood that is used for clotting,” said donor relations practitioner Terrance Pillay.
“Platelet donations is when whole blood is drawn and separated inside the machine – platelets are collected in a bag and returned to the donor’s blood system.”
Terrance explained that despite donating platelets taking about 60 to 90 minutes, the reward is that donors help to save lives, especially patients who cannot stop bleeding.
These are the requirements for donors:
• Must be between the ages of 16-60 years.
• Committed, regular blood donor with good venous access.
• Platelets count between 200 and 450.
• Meet normal blood requirements (weight above 55kg, normal blood pressure, normal iron readings, living a good lifestyle).
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