1 Educating towards Solidarity Municipal branch of Vedano al Lambro Vedano al Lambro academic year 2009-2010 Info on,its purposes and its aims Devoted.

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Educating towards Solidarity

Municipal branch ofVedano al Lambro

Vedano al Lambro academic year 2009-

2010

Info on ,its purposes and its aims

Devoted to students of Class II of Middle Schools

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CONTENTS● AVIS

What it is about. Outlook. Mission. Values. Objectives.

● Donating blood. ● Outlines of transfusions. ● AVIS in Italy. ● AVIS at Vedano al Lambro. ● AVIS

Who are the donors? How and why we can donate blood. Apprehension of donors. The cost of blood. Values of solidarity and of donating.

● A message for parents.

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What is it about?

ITALIAN ASSOCIATION of VOLUNTEERS for BLOOD

Outlook (what we are out for in favour of the community)

An association of volunteers;in fact,the blood donors are volunteers,its executives are volunteers.

AVIS

AVIS hopes for a united society, capable of guaranteeing all citizens with optimum health and wellbeing conditions.

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The mission (what we do to achieve our set aims)

ITALIAN ASSOCIATION of VOLUNTEERS for BLOOD

The aim of AVIS is to promote thevoluntary – as well as periodical,associated, unpaid, anonymous andmindful – donating of blood(whole and/or a fraction of it),taken as a unitary and universal value,an expression of solidarity and public spirit.

AVIS

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The values Solidarity (aware of what donating means),unselfishness, safeguarding the right togood health, public spirit, respect,

fairness, democratic feelings, equality.

AVIS

Ethic principles

Anonymousness, free (non-profit),social and civil participation (voluntary work),no discrimination (of sex, race, language,nationality, religion, political creed).

ITALIAN ASSOCIATION of VOLUNTEERS for BLOOD

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The objectives● Meeting with the health needs of citizens fostering:– Self-sufficiency at a national level as far as blood and derivates are concerned.– The utmost safety in transfusions, safeguarding the right to the good health of donors and recipients alike.– An optimum use of blood.● As well as AVIS,promoting information and education on the citizens’ health,the development of volunteer work, the sense of associationand of international cooperation.● Fostering the development of voluntary, periodical,associated, unpaid, anonymous and mindful donating,at a community and international level.

AVIS ITALIAN ASSOCIATION of VOLUNTEERS for BLOOD

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The gift of blood isThe gift of blood is

anonymousfree

voluntary

responsible

associative

Blood in ancient times. AVIS In ITALY

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Donating bloodDonating blood

anonymous

Donors are not aware of who receives their blood; recipients themselves are not aware of who donated the blood they receive.

isis

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Neither money nor honour are foreseen, just inner gratification, deep joy with the consciousness that our deed, humble but heartfelt, can be of help to others.

There is no payment

for the donating of blood.

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Donating bloodDonating blood

voluntary. It is a personal option.We are not obliged to donate blood. We do so because we put an instrument of invaluable human solidarity at the disposal of the community, hence of others.

is

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responsible act

We are aware of our act.We do not wish to cause damage to the recipient, that is why we strive to be in good health.

is aDonating bloodDonating blood

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associative

It is by now necessary to donate blood periodically. In so doing, donors’ health is under control and their blood is ‘safe’. Furthermore, associative blood donors have the possibility of leaving their mark on society for the achievement of Self-sufficiency.

Donating bloodDonating blood

is

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Outlines of transfusions:

A symbol of life or death.Every civilization has attributed beneficial or evil powers to blood.Offering blood to the gods was a way of thanking them andof guaranteeing oneself survival.

Blood in ancient times.

IPPOCRATES (460-377 B.C.)was the first person to come across the existence of arteries and veins but he thought they carried air.

The ancient Egyptian priests resorted to blood in order to give new youth to their principles. The ancient Romans believed

they could conquer old age by substituting the fatigued blood of old people with the blood of strong and well-built young men.

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The period in which blood – even

considered to be the dwelling place of the

soul – was ascribed with mysterious and

magical powers, lasted until the Renaissance.

GALEN (129-201 a.D.)

believed that blood was produced by the liver. .

In a well-known treatise, William HARVEY (1578-1657),an English anatomist, maintained that the circulationof blood took place in a closed circuit;he studied the heart’s movement.

Outlines of transfusions:

Blood in ancient times.

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The first transfusions of blood from animals tohuman beings took place in France in 1667.In Italy, it was the astronomer from Bologna,Cassini, who carried out successfullythe first transfusion from one animal to another.

Antony van LEEUWENHOEK (1632-1723), a Dutch naturalist, was one of the founders of

microscopy. He was the first person to describe red blood cells in

details.

Marcello MALPIGHI (1627-1694),a doctor and a naturalist, studied the human body through

a microscope and noted the existence of capillaries.

Outlines of transfusions:

Blood in ancient times.

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In 1819 Blundel started off the ‘practical’ period of blood transfusions

with the first human experience.

Making use of the blood of two male donors, he operated a woman

who suffered post-partum haemorrhage.

Karl LANDSTEINER (1868-1943) discovered blood groups at the beginning of the 20th Century and the Rhesus factor in 1940. In

1930 he was awarded the Nobel prize for Medicine.

Blood transfusions have beenpractically safe ever since.

Outlines of transfusions:

Blood in ancient times.

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In ITALY

Avis has been founded in 1927 in Milano by Dr. Vittorio Formentano.

He, with a first group of 17 volunteers, founded AVIS.

The volunteers where available:

• to answer to urgent call;

• to be controlled either in type of blood and in their health;

• to fight to defeat the plague of blood selling.

In 2008:

in Italy 1,111,071 donors have given 1,949,793 bags;in Lombardy 230,343 donors have given 487,948 bags (25,02 %);

in Milano province the bags collected where 145.297with 67.491 donors.

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IN ITALY

21 Regional Council

108 Province Council

3166 Municipal centers

Regional Council Population membersdonor

membersdonation amount

Abruzzo 1.323.987 16.154 15.578 24.467

Basilicata 591.001 17.045 16.554 23.599

Calabria 2.007.707 29.132 28.937 44.982

Campania 5.811.390 55.898 55.767 74.945

Emilia Romagna 4.275.802 145.994 141.612 268.117

Friuli Venezia Giulia 1.222.061 8.226 8.226 11.118

Lazio 5.561.017 54.433 48.292 71.047

Liguria 1.609.822 21.210 18.856 29.851

Lombardia 9.642.406 240.655 230.343 487.948

Marche 1.553.063 46.323 45.131 93.109

Molise 320.838 8.540 8.540 11.724

Piemonte 4.401.266 115.617 110.559 197.015

Prov. Aut. Bolzano 497.240 16.808 16.680 27.426

Prov. Aut. Trento 513.357 14.610 14.360 20.198

Puglia 4.076.546 47.289 46.135 69.009

Sardegna 1.665.617 29.050 27.582 38.099

Sicilia 5.029.683 61.692 61.692 92.418

Toscana 3.677.048 70.289 67.905 107.948

Umbria 884.450 27.600 26.571 38.313

Valle d'Aosta 125.979 4.221 3.819 7.087

Veneto 4.832.340 125.500 116.820 209.684

Italian Total 59.622.620 1.156.286 1.109.959 1.948.104

Svizzera - 1.474 1.112 1.689

Totai 59.622.620 1.157.760 1.111.071 1.949.793

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Donations of the various AVIS branches in Lombardy

subdivided per province – 2008

Province Council

Municipal centers

donor membersdonation amount

Bergamo 154 30.749 65.092

Brescia 101 30.219 60.618

Como 21 14.656 9.685

Cremona 52 15.915 36.201

Lecco 19 11.946 27.696

Lodi 13 6.524 16.707

Mantova 93 14.906 31.811

Milano 120 67.491 145.297

Pavia 20 8.571 18.510

Sondrio 8 6.831 11.963

Varese 44 22.535 44.368

Totale 645 230.343 467.948

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Municipal AVIS of Vedano al Lambro started in 1965.

In 1999 the objective of 10.000 donations has been reached.

In 2001 the monument to Solidarity has been inaugurated in

piazza Repubblica.

During 2009

In Vedano al Lambro,the office is in via S. Stefano 71;it’s open to everybody every tuesday from 9 p.m.

• we collected 783 bags of blood from 381 active donors (233 male and 148 female);• donors have been 351;• 40new donors and 22 retired.

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● A Board, made up of 12 members nominated in the course of a member meeting occurring every 4 years, sees to the management of the municipal branch.● The secretary’s office gets in touch with donors every 3 to 6 months in order to agree upon the date of when they should next donate blood. ● The division carries out promotional activities in order to find new donors; it organizes evenings on medical topics in order to popularize health awareness; it takes an active part in the activities that the diverse associations organize in the area [e.g.: Carnival, The Day of the Disabled – organized by the ‘Friends’ of UNITALSI (Italian National Union for the Transport of the Sick to Lourdes and to International Shrines, etc.)].

Organization and Activities

at Vedano al Lambro

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Who are the blood-donors?Who are the blood-donors?

• with more than 18 years;• with more than 50 Kg;• in good health;• with less than 65 years.

They are very normal people:

The interview with phisician and special laboratory tests verify every time the ability to the donation.

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How does the How does the actualactualdonating of blooddonating of bloodtake place?take place?

At first, blood transfusions were carried out from

one arm to another by connecting one vein to another.

The donating of blood is carried out at equipped centres, in hospitals, where the utmost safety for donors and recipients alike is guaranteed.

After the discovery of anticoagulants, at present blood may be stored and transported.

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What are the What are the reasonsreasonsfor donating for donating blood?blood? Because this means we can save human lives.

Because this means we put an instrument of invaluable human solidarity at the disposal of the community,hence of others.Because this fulfils our civic sense of helping thosein need.Because this allows for the achieving of the objective of national self-sufficiency, thus closing the gap between the collecting of blood and the actual need of blood in the various regions.

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What are the What are the reasonsreasons for donating for donating blood?blood?Because donating blood is:

an option in favour of others andan option in favour of ourselves.

Donating blood regularly ensures the donors a constant check on their health conditions by means of medical visits and thorough laboratory tests carried out each time blood is drawn. Donors thus have the possibility to get to know their organism and to lead a peaceful life, aware that a valid early diagnosis will avoid the worsening of latent ailments.

For AVIS safeguarding the health ofdonors is of paramount importance.

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Is the donating of blood Is the donating of blood harmfulharmfulor painful? Absolutely not!or painful? Absolutely not!

Donating blood does not involve any risk for healthy and eligible

adults.

Law regulates the collecting of blood and establishes that:• the quantity of blood to be drawn is 450 cm³, corresponding to

About 10% of the total; • the lapse of time between two donating sessions is not to be less

than 90 days for men and 180 days for women at a child-bearing age;• checks and periodical visits account for preventive medicine

safeguarding donors’ health conditions.

Go to ‘Values of Solidarity’

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Apprehension of Apprehension of donors.donors.

When people make up their mind to donate blood, they are

carrying out a sort of act of force against themselves.

It is not so natural to have a vein of ours pierced and to

let a good amount of blood leave our system without

being apprehensive!!

Worrying about our health?The rule is that the drawing of blood must not damage the person’s health.A medical visit and thorough clinical tests

account for a valid guarantee safeguarding health

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Apprehension of Apprehension of donors.donors.

Worrying about having too much blood drawn out of our system?The quantity of blood drawn is minimum;in a matter of hours our organism regenerates it.

Worrying about the needle and about the venous injection?The skill of the medical staff and the qualityof the instruments render the process painless.

Worrying over the sight of blood?There is no ‘bloodshed’ and donorscan always look in the opposite direction.Anyhow, the sacs and the tubes are opaque.

Worrying about fainting?Following the doctor’s advice, resting awhileon the couch afterwards and drinking fruitjuice avert the risk.

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What are the What are the ‘products’‘products’of blood useful for?of blood useful for?

• Albumin: This is useful for raising blood pressure in the case of widespread oedemas or of a serious reduction of arterial pressure.

It is obtained by industrially processing plasma.• Non specific immunoglobulin: These products, too, are derived from the industrial processing of plasma.

They are made use of to counter serious infections.• Specific factors of coagulation: A series of life-saving products deriving from the industrial processing of plasma. They are essential for healing haemorrhages that follow a congenital lack of theirs, as with haemophilias.

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The cost of The cost of blood.blood.

The blood leaving our vein and entering the plastic sac carries no

cost since the donor does not receive any payment for

donating blood.

The costs incurred by the community concern: ● The assisting medical staff.● The sac for the preserving of the blood, the setof needles for drawing the blood and all thenecessary equipment for the checks. ● Laboratory tests for viral research in safeguarding the recipient’s health.● Checks on the donor’s health.● Separating operations and the preparation ofderivates for prompt use.

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The cost of The cost of blood.blood.

In the USA, in various towns along the border with Mexico,

a great deal of ‘commuters of red blood cells’ – persons

who are unemployed, poor and sometimes drug addicts – cross

the border in order to make money with the sale of their own blood.

Half of the American production of blood is then exported.

In India, there are innumerable donors who maintain their families

by having their blood drawn 2 or 3 times a week.

For years associations of donors have battled against those who gave their blood and were paid for it. In Italy the Law punishes all those who draw, provide, collect, preserve or distribute human blood that is purchased.In several nations not only is the payment for the sale of blood tolerated but also explicitly allowed.

All this triggers off an adverse process of speculation on man’s health.

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VALUES of SOLIDARITYand of DONATION

Speaking of AVIS, we speak of solidarity. Why?

Because solidarity means to join with a moral bond everyone of us to the society we are part of.

Our deed, the gift of blood, may save a life.

Do not forget that blood is a natural “product”, which cannot be artificially reproduced and is indispensable for life.

The blood is renewable and it is therefore possible to deprive ourselves of a small quantity without damages, because the organism restores it quickly.

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Then we wonder: what we get back?

Neither money nor honour are foreseen, just internal satisfaction,a deep joy with the consciousness that our deed, humble butsincere, can help who needs.After every donation we feel ourselves satisfied by the deed done.

Remember that:“THE REALLY POOR MAN IS WHO DOES NOT KNOW TO GIVE”.

VALUES of SOLIDARITYand of DONATION

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AVIS in Vedano al Lambro is present in schools to develop together with the children a path which will eventually lead them to the awareness of solidarity.AVIS is well aware of its duties, which are to support and to urge public institutions. By law, the latter are to see to the education of children.This has lead to the starting up of positive teamwork between schools and the AVIS Association. It is now up to you to go on with what has been sown and to see that what the children have learnt with our visits does not go astray.

Become members of AVIS!!! Straightforward examples always teach best.

DONATING BLOOD MEANS DONATING SOMETHING INVALUABLE

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… KNOW ABOUT BLOOD AND DONATION….…

…ask your parent

to enter AVIS.

Bye and… see you again when you will

be 18!

…NOW YOU KNOWWHAT YOU HAVE TO….……

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To educate to solidarity

• Project: Mario Brambilla• Translation: W.A. Gulia – Oxford Group• Tests Correction : Patrizia Lecchi• Tecnical Support : Manuele Brambilla

Realized for AVIS Vedano al LambroVia S. Stefano, 7120057 Vedano al LambroTel 0392495748. Cell.3293887407E-mail [email protected]://www.avisvedanoallambro.org

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