Save Lives: Be a Blood or Apheresis Donor

Lee Health uses about 800 units of blood each week as treatment following surgery and for various diseases and traumatic injuries. Because we use a significant amount of blood each week to care for our patients and because blood has a relatively short shelf-life of 42 days, our supply needs to be replenished often. Donating blood is a relatively easy way to give back to our community—because blood donated with Lee Health at drives throughout our community, on our Blood Mobiles and in our Blood Centers stays within our health system to treat our patients.

Following a donation, whole blood is processed into blood components, like plasma and red blood cells, which can be used to treat several illnesses and injuries.        

Separating the other components of blood, like platelets and white blood cells, requires another kind of blood donation called apheresis. During an apheresis donation, our teams collect blood from the donor and put it into a machine called a “cell separator,” which spins the blood and separates the components, collecting a measured amount of the desired component (whether that is platelets, plasma or white blood cells) and then returns the red cells and other components to the donor.

Using apheresis for platelet donation, for example, yields as many platelets as six whole blood donations. Platelets are crucial in the care of patients with cancer, those receiving an organ or marrow transplant, victims of traumatic injuries and patients undergoing open-heart surgery.

There is a longer time commitment for the apheresis blood donation. While blood donation takes about 45 minutes (15 minutes or less is the actual donation and the other time is spent getting a mini-physical and completing a simple medical history questionnaire) and can be done on the Blood Mobile or at drives in the community, apheresis can take 70 minutes to two hours (depending on height and weight of the donor) and is done in our Blood Centers. The time commitment for apheresis includes donor registration, a health interview and time for refreshments. The time during the donation can be spent watching TV or a movie, listening to music or just sitting and relaxing.

Whether you donate blood or opt for an apheresis donation, both options are safe and easy. Plus, you will know you are helping save lives with your generous gift.

If you are interested in donating blood or becoming an apheresis donor, visit www.LeeHealth.org/our-services/blood-centers for more information, including donor requirements, Blood Center locations, hours of operation, local blood drives and more.