July 10, 2017.
At the start of the summer, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said it feared a shortage of blood products during the holidays. However, the needs are still important during the 2 summer months.
A national mobilization campaign
“ Illnesses don’t take a vacation “, Warns the French Blood Establishment, which has just launched a national campaign to mobilize blood donors before the great departure of all holidaymakers. It is indeed always more difficult to find donors in the summer and yet the demand does not weaken. According to the EFS, we could indeed see a shortage in the coming weeks.
In question: the hot weather and the first departures on vacation which diverted potential donors from collection centers. “ A blood donation is quick, it only takes 40 minutes consultation included », Explains Doctor Fourniol, responsible for samples for the north of Ile-de-France, in the columns of the Parisian. 10,000 blood donations are needed every day to meet the needs of patients.
10,000 blood donations are needed every day
It sounds huge, but you have to understand that blood products do not keep for long: 5 days for platelets, 42 days for red blood cells. The mobilization of all is therefore essential. It should be remembered, however, that to donate blood you must be between 18 and 70 years old and not be sick. If you have had a tattoo or a piercing, it will take 4 months to donate blood.
The EFS hopes to be able to collect 100,000 to 105,000 bags of blood by July 14. ” We currently have 80,000 bags in stock, it is imperative that we collect 20,000 additional bags in the coming days to meet the demand for blood to come. », Estimated Doctor François Charpentier, collection and production director at the EFS. People in the O negative group are universal donors, so they are particularly sought after.
Marine Rondot
Read also: 10 good reasons to donate blood
