OPINION

PRACTICALLY ACTIVE: Covid-19 survivors can donate their plasma to the cause

Recovered from covid-19, Ben Floyd donates plasma April 9 at the Arkansas Blood Institute in Little Rock. "It's not enough to say I'm grateful, I have to show I'm grateful," Floyd said. "We can all save lives. The people who stay home and do social distancing, they're saving lives. I'm just in a unique position with my antibodies."
(Democrat-Gazette file photo/Stephen Swofford)
Recovered from covid-19, Ben Floyd donates plasma April 9 at the Arkansas Blood Institute in Little Rock. "It's not enough to say I'm grateful, I have to show I'm grateful," Floyd said. "We can all save lives. The people who stay home and do social distancing, they're saving lives. I'm just in a unique position with my antibodies." (Democrat-Gazette file photo/Stephen Swofford)

"Wherever a man turns, he can find someone who needs him."

— Albert Schweitzer

Here we are, together again — sort of. Self-quarantining, social distancing and being careful. I go to the store when I need something, but for the most part, I stay home. But on the up-side, I managed to score a 12-pack of toilet paper.

I have a friend who lives in New York, right in the heart of the Bronx near at least three hospitals. I worry. I'm like, "Stay home! Don't touch anything on the bus or train!" You get the picture. But my friend is not scared. As a former police officer, it is still in his DNA to be smart and careful.

Another dear friend has a daughter who is a nurse. She recently headed to New York to work in a hospital there — much to her mother's dismay. But she is smart, too, and trained to handle things that many of us can't.

There are projections, plans and systems in place to get us to the finish line as safely as possible, and as I keep abreast of things, I like to believe what we are doing is working — for the most part.

ONE WORLD

When you think of it, people are all different but, no matter who you are, where you are from or what your beliefs are, there are things we have in common — and cannot live without. Along with our bodily organs, we are simply out of luck if we don't have blood flowing through our veins.

Even in good times, organizations that collect blood donations have trouble getting suitable donors. For the last year or so, I have not been able to donate because my blood pressure has been high. I'm taking medication, but it's slow going.

I'm bummed that I can't donate. And I'm disappointed that I can't score a free T-shirt and snacks.

The Arkansas Blood Institute, the organization that picked up where the American Red Cross Blood Services left off, says that despite the covid-19 pandemic, donation is critically important.

According to information on the website of the institute, arkbi.org, the Food and Drug Administration reports no cases of virus transmitted through blood transfusion and states that respiratory viruses generally are not known to be transmitted by transfusion.

The institute is following recommendations and guidelines set forth by the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Association of Blood Banks. It says it is committed to maintaining the safest standards, and practices rigorous safety and cleanliness standards.

The donor centers and mobile blood vehicles undergo extra cleaning methods for decontamination and have been adapted for social distancing. The phlebotomy and donor service staff wear masks and have their temperatures taken before starting work or even entering a facility. The institute limits the number of donors in the place at the same time.

The institute asks that you refrain from trying to donate if you have been diagnosed with or suspect you have covid-19; if you've cared for, lived with or have been in close contact with a diagnosed person; or if you have traveled to areas with high rates of infection.

Across the country, there are programs asking for donations of "convalescent plasma" to treat patients suffering severe symptoms of covid-19.

The website for One Blood, oneblood.org, offers a bit of an explanation. People who have recovered from the virus have developed antibodies that remain in the plasma portion of the blood. Transfusing plasma full of antibodies into a person still fighting the virus could provide a boost to the patient's immune system and, potentially, help them recover.

Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that serves as a transport medium for delivering nutrients to organ cells, and for transporting waste products from cell metabolism to the kidneys, lungs and liver for excretion. It helps maintain normal blood pressure and distribute body heat.

The Arkansas Blood Institute is among the organizations taking donations of convalescent plasma. It is also creating a registry of people with covid-19 in Arkansas to ensure infected Arkansans have a chance to receive antibodies.

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Style on 04/27/2020

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