The American Red Cross Pleasanton Blood Donation Center is one of nine locations in Northern California where eligible donors in the community can donate blood products including whole blood, plasma, and platelets. The Red Cross provides about 40% of the nation's blood. Blood products collected at Blood Donation Centers such as the one at Hacienda help ensure blood is available for patients whose survival depends on transfusions. The Red Cross must collect about 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,500 platelet donations every day for patients in need.

Platelets are the tiny cells that form clots and stop bleeding. Donating platelets is little different than a regular whole blood donation, and can only be done at select Red Cross Blood Donation Centers such as the Hacienda site. During a platelet donation, blood is collected by a device that separates platelets, along with some plasma, from whole blood, and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor.

"People may be surprised that they can play a direct role in the fight against cancer, and it is easier than they might think," says Geri Ostil-Hernandez, Local Market Manager for the American Red Cross. "By donating platelets through the Red Cross Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, donors can help patients kick cancer."

About 2 million units of platelets are transfused each year in the United States. More than half of all donated platelets go to cancer patients. In the Northern California Blood Services Region, 129 platelet donations are needed each day. Platelet donations, as well as other blood products, are perishable; the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Patients needing blood transfusions depend on the generosity of donors to roll up a sleeve, donate blood, and help save lives.

"Nearly half of the public knows someone who has been helped by a blood transfusion," says Ostil-Hernandez. "This could be a loved one recovering from a traumatic accident, a heart surgery or organ-transplant patient, or someone receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer, or sickle cell disease."

The Red Cross depends on volunteer donors to help ensure blood products are available at approximately 2,500 hospitals nationwide. The summer is a challenging time to collect blood as regular donors become busy with travel and schools are out of session, which often leads to blood shortages. With the help of local partners, the Red Cross hopes to grow blood donations and inspire new donors to give, ultimately ensuring lifesaving blood is available for patients.

Five American Red Cross employees work at the Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, which moved to its current Hacienda location in March 2019. In addition to donating blood at the Blood Donation Center, community members can volunteer to be a blood drive ambassador to greet and check-in blood donors at blood drives. They can also volunteer to be a transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood to area hospitals. Blood program leaders are also needed to host and help recruit blood donors at community blood drives.

For more information about the American Red Cross Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, please visit www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/location/pleasanton-american-red-cross.html.

For more information about donating blood and different types of donations, please visit www.redcrossblood.org.