Community Blood Center, an affiliate of the NCH Healthcare System, is in critical need of platelets and types O negative and A negative blood, due to sudden and increased patient usage.
Donors must eat and hydrate before donating and bring a photo ID.
Platelet donors must be aspirin-free for at least 48 hours. This is a 90 minute to 2-hour automated procedure that requires an appointment time.
- More on the story: Find out more about donating blood and platelets
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are tiny, disc-shaped cell fragments found in the blood. They play a crucial role in blood clotting and wound healing. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets activate and adhere to the injured area. They release chemicals that signal other platelets to gather, forming a clot that plugs the wound and prevents excessive bleeding.
To give whole blood you can find a bloodmobile location online at www.GivebloodCBC.org or walk-in and give a pint of blood at the Community Blood Center’s donor center, 1100 Immokalee Road, Naples.
Center hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
The blood draw is only 5 to 7 minutes, but please allow 45 minutes to complete the entire process from registration to refreshment.
B negative is one of the top three rarest blood types, with only about 2 percent of the U.S. population having this type.
While not the rarest overall, O negative is a "universal donor" for red blood cells, meaning it can be transfused to anyone, and is often in high demand in emergencies.
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