Once again, the members of UNC Sport Clubs helped to save the lives of cancer and leukemia patients, bone marrow recipients, trauma patients and countless other UNC Hospitals patients by donating platelets and plasma for the UNC Hospitals Platelet and Plasma Donor Program.
In an effort to avoid a chronic platelet and plasma shortage over the Thanksgiving holiday, over 55 pints were collected from the UNC Sport Clubs Nov. 4-22. This is the fourth year the Sport Clubs have chosen the UNC Hospitals Platelet and Plasma Donor Program as a service project, ensuring a constant platelet and plasma supply is always available for the over 800 patients needing platelet and plasma transfusions every month at UNC Hospitals.
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, clotting disorders and liver failure.
The Platelet & Plasma Donor Program at UNC Hospitals, which began in 1997, is unique in the Triangle because its blood supply comes from donations made within the hospital and the local community. We are completely dependent on the goodwill of our neighbors to provide a constant supply of blood products to the many patients of UNC Hospitals.
The UNC Sport Club students have touched many lives this Thanksgiving. While only 5 percent of the eligible population donates any blood product, that number is even less for platelet and plasma donors.
By putting their feet up for an hour or two the Sport Clubs have truly given thanks this holiday season by sharing their good health.
They have truly given thanks this Thanksgiving, and we encourage others to do the same!
Laura Shook-Marino
Donor Recruiter
UNC Hospitals Platelet Donor Program
