UrBC, Yekaterinburg, May 6, 2016. Uraltransmash (a member enterprise of Ural Vagon Zavod Corporation) held its traditional Donor’s Day, the company press service reports.

‘Dozens of plant workers arrived at the mobile blood donation station by 9 AM. It came as a surprise that first-time donors or those who haven’t donated blood in a long time cannot contribute this time because the local blood transfusion station is switching to a new automated system this year. So not all those willing to do so could actually donate their blood,’ the press service says.

Thirty-nine people, who donated 17.5 liters of blood, became donors this time.

‘We organize blood donation days on a regular basis, typically twice or thrice in the summertime. Even though the new automated information system means we cannot deal with first-time donors at mobile stations, we are still very grateful to the many volunteers who came. Blood is always needed, since it can only be stored for one month. Moreover, the thrombocytes can only survive for five days,’ says Elena Taskayeva from the blood donation station.