BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 When you hear \u201cblood donation,\u201d you might picture a bag of blood being collected.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s another part of your blood that can make a lifesaving difference: platelets.<\/p>\n
Platelets are the cells responsible for helping your blood clot and stop bleeding.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlatelets are a lot of what cancer patients are receiving, they\u2019re receiving it because whenever they\u2019re going through chemo treatment, the chemo is actually attacking their platelet count so they end up needing platelets. You have trauma victims that are in need of platelets,” said Alyssa Mendonca, Community Development Supervisor for Houchin Community Blood Bank.<\/p>\n
Right now, Houchin Community Blood Bank says its platelet supply is running dangerously low.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just confirmed we do have 8 platelets ready to go and processed,” said Mendonca. “With platelets they do have a shorter shelf life they only have 5 days of a shelf life so we end up getting them out much quicker we end up moving them much quicker we don\u2019t often have these completely filled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike a traditional blood donation, platelet donations can take longer because the platelets are actively separated from the other components of your blood before you leave.<\/p>\n
For some donors, the extra time is worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI sit here about two hours and to me its just like two hours out of my day, out of my week, its not impactful to me but I know it\u2019s impactful to others so that\u2019s why I don\u2019t mind doing it,” said donor Beatrice Pelayo. <\/p>\n
Although she\u2019s not the only one answering the call.<\/p>\n
Michelle Lord is helping make sure more donors are walking through Houchin\u2019s doors.<\/p>\n
After health conditions kept her from donating herself, she found another way to give back \u2014 by recruiting others and organizing blood drives through her local church.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do two biannual bigger drives and then we encourage our members to donate every 8 weeks if they can and so were a regular group they turn to to have blood donations and even platelets as well,” said Lord. <\/p>\n
With platelet supplies running low, volunteers like Michelle Lord are playing an important role in helping Houchin maintain donations and giving community members an opportunity to make a difference.<\/p>\n