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Donate platelets to win Kings’ playoff tickets

May 19, 2014

(CNS) – A six-day platelets drive will begin today at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, with donors entered into a drawing for two tickets for Game 4 of the NHL’s Western Conference Final.

Appointments are required to donate for what has been dubbed as “Platelets For Playoffs 2014 — Western Conference Final” and can be made by calling (323) 361-2441 or emailing blooddonorcenter@chla.usc.edu.

Appointments are available at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays and until 12:15 p.m. Saturday. Platelet donations take two to three hours to complete.

The drive will conclude Saturday.

The requirements for donating platelets are the same as for donating blood. People who have taken aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, in the previous 48 hours may not donate.

Platelets are the cells in blood that help to form clotting and avoid excessive bleeding. Patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment and those who have had a bone marrow transplant have especially low platelet counts and can easily lose blood. Platelet donations are in high demand for children undergoing these treatments.

Game 4 of the NHL’s Western Conference Final between the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks will be played next Monday at Staples Center.

The Kings are eight wins away from their second NHL title in three years.