Carmel Firefighter donates Plasma to help COVID-19

Carmel firefighter who survived COVID-19 ordeal is now donating plasma to
help other COVID-19 patients in need

CARMEL, IN April 14, 20 – City of Carmel firefighter Kevin Young, who
contracted COVID-19, was hospitalized and has now fully recovered, has begun
donating his plasma for potentially life-saving treatments for patients who
are extremely ill with the virus. According to the FDA, anyone who has fully
recovered from COVID-19, may be able to help patients currently fighting the
infection by donating their plasma. Because Young fought the infection, his
plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies and these antibodies (which helped
his immune system fight the virus) may be able to help others fight off the
disease.

Young, who is 40, made his first donation this week at Versiti blood
donation center in Indianapolis and he plans to make another donation next
week. Versiti (formerly the Indiana Blood Center) also has a Carmel
location, but it currently only accepts donations of blood, not plasma.

Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from
patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
Patients develop antibodies in the blood against the virus. Antibodies are
proteins that might help fight the infection. Convalescent plasma is being
investigated for the treatment of COVID-19 because there is no approved
treatment for this disease and there is some information that suggests it
might help some patients recover from COVID-19.

“If my plasma donation can help save the lives of COVID-19
patients who are near death, then I will plan to do this as much as
possible,” said Young. “When I was sick, we had so many friends and
neighbors who helped me and my family. This is my way of giving back.”

Because Young’s blood is type AB-negative, he is a
“universal donor” of plasma, making his donations even more valuable to
doctors treating a variety of COVID-19 patients.

According to the FDA, anyone who has fully recovered from
COVID-19 for at least two weeks is encouraged to consider donating plasma.
Convalescent plasma must only be collected from recovered individuals if
they are:

* Eligible to donate blood
* Have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory
test
* Have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 28 days before
they donate or have no symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation and
have a negative lab test for active COVID-19 disease.

Potential recovered COVID-19 donors are asked to call a special hotline set
up by Versiti that has been created: 1-866-702-HOPE (866-702-4673) and begin
registering to donate. Potential donors can also find out more about
Versiti’s program and register by visiting
www.versiti.org/covid19plasma

Versiti, among the first in the U.S. to begin collecting convalescent
plasma, is working with its partner hospitals to identify recovered
patients. The donated plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients will be
provided directly to the hospitals with whom Versiti is partnering.

Young said he does not know if his plasma donation will
actually help others because it is too soon to tell. The FDA cautions that
further investigation is still necessary to determine if convalescent plasma
is safe and effective as a treatment for COVID-19, and whether it might
shorten the duration of illness, reduce morbidity, or prevent death.

“Everything is happening so fast, it’s hard to say how
effective Kevin’s donation will be,” said Carmel Fire Chief David Haboush.
“But we must keep doing everything we can to find treatments for COVID-19
patients. I applaud Kevin and anyone willing to donate plasma for the
benefit of someone else.”