[Taltarzac725]

You may want to try donating platelets at the One Blood building in Lady Lake in Spanish Plaines Shopping Center on Bella Cruz Drive.

You can donate platelets quite more frequently and they have a wide range of movies you can choose to watch while you are immobilized with a needle in each arm. It is a very uncomfortable 90 minutes or so but it sounds like platelet donations are badly needed. This is especially true for me as I have the rarest blood type. How To Target Type AB- - Donate Blood

I watched Skyfall for about 100 minutes or so before I was done. This was in preparation for the next Bond movie coming out in a few months.

They also now seem to have a lot more options with the OneBlood Rewards like Barnes and Noble, Regal Theater, some major retailers, restaurants, etc. Share Your Power - Donate Blood

[leftyf]

I donate platelets every 2 weeks on their regular donor list. I asked about what platelets are used for and they said most go for cancer treatments and there is a waiting list at the hospitals for platelets. They even told me that when I was donating, my information was fed into the computer and many times they have a match who is waiting for my donation. They also said that in the past, they have had hospitals and even the Governor calling them for platelets. Seeing that need, I will donate as long as I can. There was one man that died recently at 100 who had donated platelets for the last time in the spring. My Hero.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by leftyf

I donate platelets every 2 weeks on their regular donor list. I asked about what platelets are used for and they said most go for cancer treatments and there is a waiting list at the hospitals for platelets. They even told me that when I was donating, my information was fed into the computer and many times they have a match who is waiting for my donation. They also said that in the past, they have had hospitals and even the Governor calling them for platelets. Seeing that need, I will donate as long as I can. There was one man that died recently at 100 who had donated platelets for the last time in the spring. My Hero.

You must know their movie collection fairly well?

I usually donate on the blood mobiles and that's where I can get to them via golf cart but decided to add some platelet donations this year.

[leftyf]

I quit donating on the blood mobile because of the crowds. I donate at the center because I can get an appointment and don't have to stand in line. Also, you can't donate platelets on the bus. It's a more peaceful atmosphere in the center and being a regular, every 2 weeks, you get to know the other regulars because they have the same time and date as you. There are a lot of regular platelet donors and a lot of people can't do platelets, my daughter is not a candidate.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by leftyf

I quit donating on the blood mobile because of the crowds. I donate at the center because I can get an appointment and don't have to stand in line. Also, you can't donate platelets on the bus. It's a more peaceful atmosphere in the center and being a regular, every 2 weeks, you get to know the other regulars because they have the same time and date as you. There are a lot of regular platelet donors and a lot of people can't do platelets, my daughter is not a candidate.

Some of the blood mobiles have been almost empty when I donate. Other times they are very busy. The Loud Boys' Group on 9/11/2015 will probably be quite busy. I kind of like all the commotion.

[asianthree]

Thanks for taking hours out of your day to donate. Platelets are in great demand and play a vital role in how the body forms blood clots. Just a little info no matter what ABO you are, your platelets can be used on anyone. So find a good book and know that the four hours of your time will be greatly appreciated

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Thanks for taking hours out of your day to donate. Platelets are in great demand and play a vital role in how the body forms blood clots. Just a little info no matter what ABO you are, your platelets can be used on anyone. So find a good book and know that the four hours of your time will be greatly appreciated

Unfornuately, unless you have an audio book of 90 minutes per CD as well as player with good batteries, you can only watch TV or movies when doing platelets. I noticed a number of films that came out fairly recently at the Lady Lake OneBlood donation place. American Sniper, Marine 4 were two of these there.

You should pick something though that will not startle you in any way as you have to stay with both arms immobile.

I am often under the needle so to speak when doing whole blood for between 4 and 11 minutes. It is usually about 6 minutes though from when the needle starts drawing whole blood. 90 minutes for platelets is kind of hard after the short periods spent doing whole blood.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Unfornuately, unless you have an audio book of 90 minutes per CD as well as player with good batteries, you can only watch TV or movies when doing platelets. I noticed a number of films that came out fairly recently at the Lady Lake OneBlood donation place. American Sniper, Marine 4 were two of these there.

You should pick something though that will not startle you in any way as you have to stay with both arms immobile.

I am often under the needle so to speak when doing whole blood for between 4 and 11 minutes. It is usually about 6 minutes though from when the needle starts drawing whole blood. 90 minutes for platelets is kind of hard after the short periods spent doing whole blood.

Yep Stopped counting at 60 gallons of regular and lost count of platelets. When you work in a blood bank for many many years your arm always had a needle in it. I cut down on my travel and do double unit ever time . I bring iPad that page can be turned with a finger, no arm movement needed.

[CFrance]

Tal, could you explain what you mean by "an uncomfortable 90 minutes"? Is it a pain issue, or just having to be immobile?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Tal, could you explain what you mean by "an uncomfortable 90 minutes"? Is it a pain issue, or just having to be immobile?

There is only a slight amount of pain when the needles go into the veins in the arms. Also there seems to be a lot of scar tissue in frequent donors. I have only given about 6 gallons now over my life, but there does seem to be scarring now in the veins that they find easiest to get to.

It is mostly being immobile for that length of time. I am sure that the kind people there would scratch if you an itch. And they have blankets and the like too. I find that my hands get extremely cold to touch when doing platelets.

In 1985 or so, I started donating blood to impress a girl named Sandy, I worked with at Information Access Company in Belmont I had a crush on who was then dating a lawyer and now seem to have better intentions. Never did learn what happened to Sandy after I left for law school at the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986. I did run into Information Access Company employees at various law library conventions as they sold products around the country to many different kinds of libraries.

Back to the subject of platelets-- Apheresis Donations | UCLA Blood and Platelet Center - Los Angeles, CA

[leftyf]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Tal, could you explain what you mean by "an uncomfortable 90 minutes"? Is it a pain issue, or just having to be immobile?

It's not the pain, really there is none after the "stick". It's just that as soon as they get both arms hooked up and you know you cannot move either for 90-100 minutes that you start itching some place on your body. I have learned by now that itches do not need to be scratched. There is also the problem of staying awake. The machine sounds an alarm when you doze off. Kind of embarrassing to get "Yelled At". It's a rewarding experience though and if more people did it, there would never be a shortage.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by leftyf

It's not the pain, really there is none after the "stick". It's just that as soon as they get both arms hooked up and you know you cannot move either for 90-100 minutes that you start itching some place on your body. I have learned by now that itches do not need to be scratched. There is also the problem of staying awake. The machine sounds an alarm when you doze off. Kind of embarrassing to get "Yelled At". It's a rewarding experience though and if more people did it, there would never be a shortage.

Maybe we can draw more people into donating platelets. Just keep the thread going for a while.

Different blood banks have various time frameworks for how often you can donate platelets. The National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD has one month. NIH Clinical Center: Platelets by Apheresis

Donate Blood Platelets | American Red Cross

[CFrance]

Why can you not move your hands? Any time I've had an IV, it was on a long enough tube that I could move.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Why can you not move your hands? Any time I've had an IV, it was on a long enough tube that I could move.

https://youtu.be/A3NNQbWQqkI

This is a YouTube about a platelet donation with one arm. You can see how she would have trouble moving that arm all that much. The phlebotomist (needle sticker) asked me about "one arm or two" so I guess that can be done too here in Lady Lake. I wanted to spread the scarring out a little.

[Taltarzac725]

https://youtu.be/CncDZ6pNs08

The Canadian Blood Services YouTube on platelet donations.