All information is kept confidential. A Single Donation Can Help More Than One Patient Donated blood is collected and separated into different components, each of which serves a different medical need. Red blood cells are used for surgical and trauma patients, as well as for medical patients with anemia, such as dialysis patients. Platelets are used to help control bleeding. They are often used in the treatment of leukemia patients and other cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Platelets are unique in that they have a short life span of just five days.
Plasma is used for patients with certain bleeding disorders, for patients with selected coagulation factor deficiencies, and for selected patients undergoing massive transfusion. For example, plasma may be used to treat burn victims, dehydration and shock. Most people don't realize that because a blood donation is made into separate units of red cells, platelets and plasma, they can save three patients with one donation. When you donate blood, you give a gift to someone in need. He likes to run around, play games and hang out with his younger brother.