The Italian Red Cross – Rome Metropolitan Area Committee, with the unconditional contribution of Daiichi Sankyo Italy, recently organised two days entirely dedicated to Blood Donor Prevention in Rome.
The first day was held on Wednesday 19 April, while the second was organised on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, in Piazza Farnese on 14 June 2023.
Red Cross volunteers and G.I.N.A. (Grandi Idee Nascono Amando) volunteers, a non-profit association that deals with social initiatives such as volunteering, blood donation, cap collection, discussion and awareness-raising on sensitive issues such as immigration, actively participated in the event.
The aim of the initiative was to raise awareness on the importance of blood donation and cardiovascular prevention, to remind people that ‘donating is a way to do good to others and to oneself’.
On this subject, Valentina Marina Agostini, vice-president of the Gina Association, said: ‘Today we are here in Piazza Farnese together with the Red Cross to bring as many people as possible to donate blood. Our Association was born with a sad story: we lost a friend in a car accident; we found ourselves one summer night in a hospital, unaware that blood bags were a continuous emergency. Our story has a tragic ending because Francesco is no longer there, but since that day we have organised ourselves and from one city we have grown to 16 cities in Italy plus Brussels. We have no profit motive, we just want what happened to us to happen to no group of friends. Blood must not be lacking and making donation affordable for everyone makes it a normalised issue.’
Free screening for blood donors
Donating blood is an act of love towards others but also towards oneself. In fact, donating blood allows one to monitor one’s state of health and carry out regular check-ups.
To focus attention on the latter, two prevention days were organised where donors and potential donors, aged between 30 and 65, underwent free screening.
The screening included:
- Medical history
- Cardiological examination
- Blood tests
- Resting electrocardiogram
The resting ECG was performed with CardioPad Lite, Biotechware’s 12-lead electrocardiograph, which allows ECGs to be performed easily, quickly and professionally.
The turnout over the two days was remarkable, with a good number of participants; our data shows that more than 50 resting ECGs were performed.
Biotechware is pleased to have made its technology available for a noble purpose, participating actively in the event was important, and we would like to thank all the volunteers of the CRI Roma and, in particular, Sister Maria Rosa Solinas – Provincial Delegate Blood Donation Area of the Metropolitan Committee of Rome Capital of the Italian Red Cross. for organising, for their precious collaboration, and for involving us in this special day dedicated to prevention.
