Today we will tell you about Donor Day when and how is celebrated in the Russian Federation and around the world. Also, from the presented article, you will know why it was installed and to whom it is dedicated.
Donor Day Overview
Blood Donor Day is one of the social holidays, which is not only national but also international in nature. According to the founders, this event is dedicated primarily to the donors themselves. On such a day, congratulate and thank people who donated blood for a long time or once to save the life or health of completely unfamiliar patients. In addition, this holiday is dedicated to doctors conducting blood sampling, as well as to other medical workers who develop all kinds of methods, carefully examine the donated material, monitor the operation of the equipment and the sanitary condition of the transfusion centers.
Donor Day in Russia
Every year on April 20 one of the most important social holidays is celebrated in the Russian Federation. Its name is as follows - National Donor Day.
For the uninitiated, it is very interesting why this number was chosen for such a holiday? As you know, the reason for its establishment was a rather humane event. The fact is that in April 20, 1832, a young obstetrician from St. Petersburg, Wolf Andrei Martynovich, for the first time conducted a successful blood transfusion of one of the women in labor with obstetric bleeding. Thanks to the competent work and professionalism of the doctor, the woman’s life was saved. It should be noted that the donor of the blood used during the operation was the husband of the patient.
Some statistics about blood donation
Donor Day was instituted for a reason. Every year in our country, more than one and a half million people are in dire need of a blood transfusion. According to experts, approximately 200 liters of donor material are required daily in the capital of the Russian Federation. By the way, more than 35% of blood for transfusion to Moscow and the Moscow region comes from other regions of our country.
According to statistics, since the late 1990s, the acute need for donated blood has increased several dozen times. This is due to the fact that it was from this time that various emergencies (terrorist acts, man-made disasters, earthquakes, etc.) began to arise more and more often. This situation in the country has contributed to the fact that the number of donors has also increased significantly (about 17 times).
What is donated blood for?
Donor Day was established not only to thank the Honorary Donors of Russia and those who are directly involved in the processing of the material, but also to remind people again how sick their patients really need their blood.
It should be noted that not everyone knows why donation is necessary at all. The fact is that blood and its components are needed, firstly, for patients with severe oncohematological diseases. By the way, among such patients there is a rather large percentage of young and older children.
Secondly, donated blood is extremely necessary for those people who have got into a serious traffic accident.
Third, women after childbirth and patients of various specialties, which are associated with a great risk to life and health, are in dire need of material.
Are there stocks of donated blood? We find out together
Donor Day was established after several tragic events. After all, it was the explosions in the subway, the terrorist attacks at the airports and the crash of the aircraft that showed that a huge number of patients who got into a difficult situation needed donated blood. As practice shows, there are a lot of sympathizers and people who want to help the victims in our country.
According to experts, in case of emergency in Russia there is a strategic supply of donated blood. This is a supply of red blood cells that are deeply frozen. The number of strategic dosages is approximately 3500-5000 units. In addition, about 35 tons of freshly frozen plasma are stored in special centers.
Features of the national holiday
Events dedicated to National Donor Day are officially held in all Russian regions on April 20. On this day, questions are raised about the problems of donation in the Russian Federation, as well as an exchange of experience.
It should be noted that the main problem today is a marked reduction in the number of donors. That is why over the past few years all kinds of activities have been actively carried out that help revive the donor movement in Russia. So, a federal program for the development of the blood service was developed.
Donation Act
In 2013, on January 21, the law "On the donation of blood and its components" entered into force. According to it, free blood donation is encouraged in the Russian Federation. The reward is that volunteers are given the opportunity to dine for free. However, for scarce blood groups, the board still remained. Moreover, the Ministry of Health issued an order that allows a citizen who submits his material to write a statement and receive money instead of hot food.
By the way, under the same law, the list of benefits that was previously provided to donors was reduced. However, such changes did not affect Honorary Volunteers.
Who are Honorary Donors of the Russian Federation?
Honorary donors in our country are those people who donated blood and its components at least 40 times or donated plasma at least 60 times in their entire lives.
In addition to the familiar “Honorary Donor” badge, such volunteers are encouraged by annual leave at a time convenient for them (according to the TKRF), receiving medical care out of turn at state institutions and the right to purchase tickets to any Russian sanatorium at the place of study or work.
It should also be noted that annual payments intended for honorary donors increased by about 1.5 times. Now this amount is approximately 9959 Russian rubles. At the same time, donor payments will be indexed every year according to inflation.
World Donor Day
As mentioned above, donor day is not only national, but also international in nature. So, in May 2005, during the 58th session of the World Health Assembly, which was held in Geneva, the date of the social holiday, June 14, was approved. Donor Day around the world is celebrated at this time. The named number was chosen for a reason, because on that day in 1868 the Austrian immunologist and doctor Karl Landsteiner was born. In 1930, he received the Nobel Prize for such an important discovery as the definition of human blood groups .
Features of the international holiday
As well as national, International Donor Day is celebrated quite actively. So, every year on June 14, millions of people come together to hold events that urge the people of the planet to help each other in difficult situations.
In all large and small cities of the Russian Federation and the world, press conferences, actions and exhibitions are held in which medical workers, Honorary donors, and representatives of the government (public) and the media take an active part. As a rule, such events are aimed at highlighting existing problems and problems of donation. During press conferences and other meetings, it is decided how to improve the work of the centers for the delivery of materials, as well as how to urge people to donate blood.
It should be noted that on this day, medical stations and blood transfusion centers are open to all comers. According to statistics, on June 14 points of delivery of materials accept an incredible number of volunteers. Each of them seeks to contribute to the development of donation worldwide. Thanks to such people, millions of lives are saved annually.