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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC Hospitals Thanks Sports Clubs for Their Platelets and Plasma

The past two weeks the members of UNC Sport Clubs put their feet up for an hour or two and donated platelets and plasma for the patients of UNC Hospitals.

In an effort to avoid a chronic platelet and plasma shortage over the Thanksgiving holiday, over 85 pints were collected from the UNC Sport Clubs Nov. 5-17.

This is the third year the Sport Clubs have chosen the UNC Hospitals Platelet and Plasma Donor Program as a service project.

This year over 100 appointments were scheduled by the Sport Clubs to donate, which is double the number of appointments from last year. Among the major blood products, platelets are the most important for keeping a patient in critical condition alive.

These blood cells are used to regulate the blood clotting mechanism and to prevent patients from hemorrhaging after surgeries or during intensive chemotherapy. But because platelets have a shelf life of no more than five days, the supply must be replaced constantly to avoid shortages. Plasma is primarily used for patients with severe burns and liver failure.

These students have affected many lives this Thanksgiving.

Only 5 percent of the eligible population donates any blood product, and that number is even less for platelet and plasma donors.

The need for a reliable supply has never been more acute as hospital usage increases.

The Sport Clubs members who participated are not only juggling schoolwork but also part-time jobs and sport schedules. Still, they found the time to commit themselves to donating.

They have truly given thanks this Thanksgiving, and we encourage others to do the same!

Laura Shook-Marino

Donor Recruiter

UNC Hospitals Platelet & Plasma Donor Program

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