“The history of the military transfusionist was published on the page of the command of the medical forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Rostislav Zaralsky has been working with donor blood since 1997. His first experience was …”, – WRITE ON: Armyinform.com.ua
Read for: 2 min. January 29 2025, 10:32
Donor blood is a real currency of life on the front line. Its stock means a chance to save for wounded defenders of Ukraine. In constant fighting, the role of blood and its components becomes critical, and people who provide their presence are real heroes. Among them is the military transfusiologist Rostislav Zaralsky, the call sign “vampire”. He is not just a doctor, but a person who created a system that changed the rules of play in military medicine. The history of the military transfusionist was published on the page of the command of the medical forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Rostislav Zaralsky has been working with donor blood since 1997. His first experience was in a maternity hospital where he was responsible for blood service. Thanks to its innovative approach, the institution has become one of the leading in the country, and the department of transfusion and enzyme therapy is unique to Ukraine.
In 2014, when the war began, Rostislav could not stay away. He saw that the wounded were brought to hospital sites already dead. The reason is great blood loss. Then he realized that it was necessary to transport not only the soldiers to the hospital, but also the blood to them. This is how blood saves life was born.
To ensure prompt blood supply to the area of hostilities, Rostislav began to develop mobile transfusion stations – “blood flow”. Today it is the sixth modification of unique transport, which is equipped with everything necessary for collecting, checking, storing and transporting donor blood. Inside the usual look of a minibus is the equipment of a full -fledged blood jar: transfusion systems, test tubes, plasma defrosting devices and blood heating. The most important thing is that this process can be done simply while driving to deliver a vital resource to your destination as quickly as possible.
During the war, Rostislav Zauralsky and his team saved thousands of lives. If during the ATO and OOS he transported half a ton of blood per year, now this volume is transported on a monthly basis. Record – 176 blood transfusions per day, which is a phenomenal indicator. The use of fresh frozen plasma at the pre -hospital level made it possible to improve the survival of severely wounded by 30%.
Today, Vampire continues to improve the blood service system in the Armed Forces, expanding it to all military units. Its purpose is to provide every direction of the army with modern installations for the fence, storage and transportation of blood, so that no fighter is killed due to its lack.
Hundreds of Ukrainians do donate blood in peaceful cities every day to get into Rostislav and his team in time. It is thanks to such people that military doctors get a chance to save the lives of our defenders.
Rostislav Zaralsky is not just a doctor. It is a person who has found a way of returning life to those who risks their own for the sake of Ukraine. And while fighting continues on the front, the “vampire” continues its struggle – with blood loss, with time, with death.
As reported by the Armyinform, Igor from the Chutov district of Poltava region is one of those who carry the burden of war daily. He is a grenade launcher of 16 separate infantry battalion 58 of the Armed Forces brigade. His work is to protect positions and reflect the attacks of the enemy.
