Superman has nothing on blood and platelet donors who save lives all the time
WARNING: If needles give you the heebie jeebies, a couple of photos here may disturb you. But if you can overcome your aversion, you'll find a way to be a hero without leaping tall buildings in a single bound.
See Monday's Health page for a story on this topic.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Daily Star reporter Johanna Eubank sits in a private interview room with Supervisor Robert Ochoa prior to donating platelets at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. All donors are required to go through an interview prior to making a donation. This process is speeded up if a Rapid Pass is completed online by the donor before going to the donation center. It includes reading the materials and answering the health questions.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Technician Robert Ochoa enters information into the computer prior to Daily Star reporter Johanna Eubank's platelet donation at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. A platelet donation is made using an apheresis machine. With a double-needle procedure, whole blood is removed from one arm and run through the machine to remove the platelets. Saline solution and the red blood cells and everything else except a bag of plasma and the platelets are returned to the donor in the other arm. The bag of plasma is kept to help preserve the platelets.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Collection vials are bar-coded in preparation for platelet donation at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Robert Ochoa applies a blood pressure cuff to the donation arm of Daily Star reporter Johanna Eubank's right arm in preparation for platelet collection at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. According to American Red Cross representatives, if more of the people who are eligible to donate blood or platelets did so regularly, we might never hear of critical shortages during emergencies.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
A smaller needle is used for a platelet donation compared to a traditional whole blood donation so some donors find it to be more comfortable. Photo taken at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Technician Robert Ochoa marks the right arm of Daily Star reporter Johanna Eubank in preparation for insertion of the needle that will return blood to her body after filtering out platelets at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. Before taking blood the technician must be assured they can successfully put it back.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Robert Ochoa feels the vein of Daily Star reporter Johanna Eubank's right arm in preparation for insertion of the needle that will return blood to her body after filtering out platelets at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. Before taking blood the technician must be assured they can successfully put it back.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
With the return needle set in place, technician Robert Ochoa is assured blood will find its way back to the donor at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. The needle prick is felt for only a second. If there is pain after that, the donor should say so.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Robert Ochoa swabs the donation arm of Daily Star reporter Johanna Eubank's left arm with a ChloraPrep Swabstick in preparation for insertion of the needle that will remove blood at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Technician Robert Ochoa places the needle on the left arm of reporter Johanna Eubank in preparation for insertion of the needle that will remove blood to have platelets filtered out at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. The ring on her arm is the sterile edge where her arm was cleaned with a ChloraPrep Swabstick. Once the needle is in, the donor should barely feel it and it should not be painful at all.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Technician Robert Ochoa draws off blood from a bypass line as donor blood makes its way to an Amicus Separator that collects platelets and returns the blood to the donor at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. Blood is tested every time a person donates to be sure the blood supply is safe. Sometimes a person doesn’t know he or she has been exposed to something.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Robert Ochoa fills out paperwork as Johanna Eubank's blood moves to the Amicus Separator at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. The process, depending on the quantity of platelets can last about two hours. The donor must keep his or her arms still. No scratching or itchy noses allowed. But no worries, the technicians will scratch noses, change TV channels or whatever is required to help keep you comfortable.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Multiple pumps move blood through the separator dividing it into its various components before returning it to the donor at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Johanna Eubank relaxes as her blood completes a full circuit of donation, platelet harvesting and return at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. The process, depending on the quantity of platelets can last about two hours. Donors often watch television or movies.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
The separator monitors the platelet donation process including pressures in and out, quantity and duration at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ.
Blood and platelet donation are practically painless ways to save lives
Robert Ochoa checks in with Johanna Eubank as her blood completes a full circuit of donation, platelet harvesting and return at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in the Foothills Mall on March 27, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. The process, depending on the abundance of platelets can last about two hours. Donors often watch television or movies. Sometimes the donor feels a little strange around the lips, perhaps a buzzing feeling. This is normal and goes away when the donation is over. Calcium helps. Some donors also get cold because the anticoagulant and saline are not as warm as the body, but other donors don't have that problem. Red Cross workers will cover you with as many blankets as you desire.
There is always a need for blood and platelet donations, yet the American Red Cross estimates only 10 percent of eligible donors do so on a regular basis.
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