Question

The nurse is explaining blood components to an 8-year-old child. The nurse, drawing on knowledge of child development, understands that the most appropriate description of platelets is that they do what?

Answer 1

Platelets are described as 'special helpers' that stop bleeding by forming a clot when there is a cut or injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate description of platelets for an 8-year-old child is that they are special helpers in the blood that act like superheroes when we get a cut, helping stop the bleeding by sticking together and forming a barrier, which is called a clot. These platelets are tiny pieces that break off from bigger cells in the bone marrow, and they have a very important job. When you have a cut or scratch, the platelets go to work by sticking to the broken part of the vessel and calling over other proteins to help make a strong patch (clot) to keep the blood inside the body and prevent germs from getting in.