Česky
Long-term blood donors undoubtedly play a major role in the successful functioning of the blood transfusion station. For example, in mid-December, Mr. Zdeněk Kot from Strašice (see photo), an absolute record holder among the jubilee donors, came to donate blood for the hundred and twentieth time. Mr Kot is only 57 years old. He was brought to this "hobby" in the mid-eighties, like many other men, by "boys in the army". He learned the value of donating blood a little later, when his six-month-old daughter needed blood herself. "From that time on, I started going regularly to donate blood every quarter. Then I introduced my then-wife and later all three children to the idea of donating," says Mr Kot, who works at the Military Forests. But the new year also started with the best of expectations. Among the first donors was another jubilarian: Mr Miroslav Mach (photo), who on Wednesday 4 January donated blood for the 100th time.
The Hořovice hospital pays great attention to promoting the idea of blood donation, especially among the young. "We try to motivate young donors and also thank them for their charity. In 2016, we registered 336 new donors. Each of them received a small gift from us," says Jana Šrámková, head nurse of the Horovice blood transfusion department.
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 can become a blood donor. They must be healthy to donate. Whether the donor is eligible for donation will be assessed individually by a medical professional directly at the transfusion department. "We are always delighted with new donors. It is a signal to us that people are not indifferent to the health of others. Often we encounter that donors bring a successor from their family before it is time to stop donating because of their old age, because they take blood donation as their civic duty," emphasised the head nurse of the Horovice transfusion department.
According to TO statistics, during 2016, one donor (the aforementioned Zdeněk Kot) received the Gold Cross of the Second Degree (for 120 free donations), 34 donors received the Gold Cross of the Third Degree (for 80 free donations), while 125 donors received the golden plaque of Dr. Janský (for 40 free donations). In addition, 192 donors were awarded a silver plaque (for 20 free donations) and 229 donors were awarded a bronze plaque (for 10 free donations).
In addition to individuals, various associations, schools and sportsmen also come to Hořovice to donate blood. Among the regular donors are students and professors of the Beroun and Hořovice Gymnasium and students of the Beroun Secondary Medical School. There are also mothers from Hořovice, members of the Police of the Czech Republic from the surrounding district departments or municipal police officers, professional and volunteer firefighters or hockey players from Beroun.
The Hořovice Transfusion Station accepts not only blood donors, but also donors of hematopoietic cells - bone marrow. The upper age limit for entry was moved from 35 to 40 last year. Those interested in joining the register do not have to be blood donors and can visit the Hořovice Transfusion Station from Monday to Thursday from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm.
The fact that the Hořovice hospital values its donors is also evidenced by the events that the transfusion station regularly organises for them, such as concerts, the St. Nicholas Day concert in December (see photo) or the St. Valentine's Day event in February - Do you love? Donate blood! The Hořovice Hospital also runs a free preventive health programme for its donors, which is tailored to the donors' age.
