92 | MAY 28 • 2020
Plasma Drive
Blood drives held in hopes of helping
COVID-19 patients.
R
esults from the first
Hatzalah of Michigan
blood drive, held in
Oak Park on May 7, deter-
mined that 100 of those tested
have the antibodies needed to
donate plasma to COVID-19
patients, with each session
supplying enough plasma to
benefit three patients.
A second drive on May 10
found 180 individuals with anti-
bodies.
According to a spokesperson
at Ascension Providence, 100%
of those who tested positive
from both drives expressed
willingness to donate plasma,
compared to a very low percent-
age of those who were contacted
after testing positive in other
settings.
Hatzalah of Michigan-
Emergency Medical Services,
in partnership with the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minn.,
held the early May drives. The
purpose was to identify those
whose blood shows antibody
levels high enough to allow
them to donate plasma for sci-
entific trials and treatment of
individuals who have the virus.
Blood drawn was sent to
the Mayo Clinic to be tested.
Names of those whose tests
show probable useful antibodies
are being shared with Hatzalah,
whose staff will work with
Ascension Providence Hospital
in Southfield to direct donors
to blood banks and help with
screening and registration.
Ensuring social distancing,
potential donors remained in
their cars in front of Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah in Oak Park
until called to private tents.
Volunteer medics from the Oak
Park-based Hatzalah, along
with area doctors and nurses,
drew blood. The second drive
added a dedicated test line for
frontline workers, including first
responders and health care and
law enforcement professionals.
The drives were sponsored by
TCF Bank in collaboration with
Hatzalah nationwide and the
American Red Cross, with sup-
port from the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit.
The non-emergency assis-
tance volunteer group Detroit
Chaverim provided traffic
control for the drives, held as
part of the Yitzchok Lebovits
COVID Plasma Initiative
Foundation, with the support
of the Orthodox Union and
Agudath Israel of America.
The outdoor testing sites were
overseen by Hatzalah’
s volunteer
director, Dr. Steve McGraw,
medical director of Oakland
County Medical Control
Authority and Emergency
Department Chief at Providence
Hospital, and Dr. Daniel
Lebovic, blood-drive volunteer,
hematologist and oncologist.
The EMS coordinator for the
Southfield Fire Deptartment
contacted drive organizer Nachy
Soloff of Southfield, asking if
the department could partner
with Hatzalah on a third drive,
providing staff along with out-
reach and “advertising” beyond
the Orthodox community.
That drive takes place Sunday,
May 31, at the Southfield Civic
Center.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SHALOM KORN
A donor is
prepared for a
blood draw.
RSVP at MIUMensHealthFoundation.org,
email info@miumenshealthfoundation.org
or by calling 1-855-66-HELP-MEN
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