Yachad d'Bobov Asks Blood Donors to Roll Up Their Sleeves, As Hospitals’ Blood Supplies Dwindle

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Hospitals are experiencing dire blood shortages, which are both causing surgeries to be cancelled and causing trauma doctors to worry that they will not have enough blood on hand in the case of accidents and trauma, which are more prevalent in the summer months, said Martin Bluth, MD, PhD, who is the chief of blood transfusion and donor services at Maimonides Medical Center.

     While hospitals like to maintain a 10 to 14-day supply of blood stores, many hospitals, and blood donation centers that supply them are down to a three-day supply: give or take. Dr. Bluth explained. “As our blood supply dwindles, it is sort of like a car that is running on ‘fumes.’

     “It is like you are driving upstate, and your meter on the car is on ‘Empty.’”

     “We must have blood on hand for various surgeries, just in case patients need it.

     “Blood bankers like myself are also nervous that a car accident or a bus accident could necessitate many people needing blood at the same time; if that happened, our three-day supply would be gone in a minute.”

     “When we don’t have blood stores, how do we treat in-house patients, trauma patients, anemia patients, birthing mothers, and babies in neonatology?

     “Let’s put it this way: Everybody needs blood. As soon as we get the blood, we give it straight to the patients who are in need."

     If healthy people just took 10 minutes of their time to give blood, they can save lives in the simplest possible way, explained Dr. Bluth, who recounted that even under normal circumstances only five to 10% of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do so.

      Hospitals, which have shortages of blood on their shelves, also have backlogs of surgeries that were postponed during the last 15 months due to COVID, when blood donation sharply dropped as strict protocols were in place, and many were hesitant to enter health facilities.

      “The number one thing people should know is that they should give blood because there is a crisis, and they could save lives,” said Chaim Fleischer, who founded Yachad d’Bobov 19 years ago.

       “We have a responsibility that our community is well-stocked with blood and well-prepared for any emergency,” echoed Yehuda Kasirer, the director of the Lev Rachel Bikor Cholim of Lakewood, who explained that many Jews have a misconception that hospitals’ blood supplies are not their concern and that “they don’t need to worry about it because the hospitals have it figured out.

     “Anyone who is able to give blood should go out and give it: That blood needs to be there.

     “We all unfortunately, learned how important it is to protect and maintain our local health systems: whether in the Brooklyn, the Catskills, or Lakewood.”

     Community members have many options for when and where to donate blood. 

     Boro Parkers are always able to donate blood just by walking in, with or without an appointment, to the Blood Donation Center at Maimonides, which is located at 4802 10th Ave.

     “Anyone can walk in off the street and give blood,” said Dr. Bluth, who added that everyone should remember that if, G-d forbid, our loved ones needed blood, which was a gift from another, people should always remember to please return that gift.

    To increase the blood supply at Maimonides, loved ones are gently reminded that they might want to pay forward the gift of blood donation, as is the practice in other countries, which cannot afford to allow only 5% of the general population to give blood.

     In fact, some of those countries require recipients of blood or their family members to replenish the blood that was used for patients in need.

    “Then, the next patients who need blood will also receive that gift,” Dr. Bluth said.

     In addition to collecting the blood of individuals, Maimonides’ Blood Donation Center can accommodate groups of 150 or more people who might want to come in together for fun and meaningful outings with their shuls, schools, or places of employment.

     People in the neighborhood who work or travel outside of Boro Park can type their ZIP codes into the website of the New York Blood Center to find convenient locations at which to donate blood that will be delivered to every hospital in New York City.

     All blood donors have to do is make an appointment, or even just show up, but they should remember to bring identification. Kosher drinks and snacks to replenish fluids and energy are usually available at blood donation sites.

     For Boro Parkers who would like to give blood at an even more convenient location than Maimonides, on July 27, the Bobov shul at 1533 48th Street will be hosting a blood drive.

     For those in the Catskills this summer, Mr. Fleischer is planning a blood drive at the beginning of August, but more details are not yet available, and Mr. Kasirer is planning to host, tentatively on July 22, a blood drive at the Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim, which is located at 93 Prospect St. in Lakewood.

     But perhaps most amazingly, in a city that is famous for delivering everything and anything, the Maimonides’ Blood Donation Center will even bring blood drives to you: by packing up beds, cots, syringes, and bags do blood draws wherever people are: schools, shuls, community centers, and places of employment.

     “We have mobile systems, and we will come to you, so you don’t have to leave wherever you are,” said Dr. Bluth, who said that readers can call Maimonides’ Blood Donation Center at (718) 283-7657 to set up on-site blood drives, at no cost. “We will set up shop and create a schedule over approximately five hours at convenient times to collect and process blood donations in a smooth and efficient way.

     “Just give us an empty room, we will set up everything, and you just come on in. You don’t have to lift a finger.”

      "A blood drive is a no-brainer and an easy opportunity to give back to your community," said Boruch Ber Bender, who is the founder and President of Achiezer. "The shortage is real, and we need to do our part."

     In addition to feeling good about giving of themselves, donors who give blood through Maimonides also receive notice when their blood is used to save lives.

      After donating blood himself, Dr. Bluth just received an e-mail that the blood he gave was used on July 3, he, who practices transfusion medicine every day, felt elated.

      “I gave 10 minutes of my time, and I absolutely saved a life,” said Dr. Bluth, who marveled that “so little effort, made such an impact.”