Last year, more than 3 million blood donations were needed to meet the needs. Whether they are used to respond to an emergency situation or to a chronic need of certain patients, blood donations are essential. Everyone has a role to play!

Blood donations are used to help patients 24 hours a day, 24 days a week. Weekends, public holidays, vacations… the need for blood donations is permanent. Regular blood donation is all the more important as the shelf life of labile blood products is limited. For example, that of platelets does not exceed 7 days. These constituents playing a key role in blood coagulation are essential to avoid the risk of hemorrhage, a significant loss of blood that puts the life of patients at risk.

It is impossible to make stocks to cover the needs over a long period. The French Blood Establishment (EFS) indicates that 10 blood donations are needed every day to cover the needs in the territory. This is only an average. The needs may be increased in certain situations.

To help keep blood product levels at satisfactory levels, it is necessary to donate blood several times a year. You just need to respect a period of at least 8 weeks between each donation of blood. A woman can donate blood up to 4 times a year and a man 6 times a year. Note that it is possible to make an appointment for a blood donation on the “Blood donation” app.

Every blood donation counts. Donating blood can help many patients. It can be used in emergency situations, especially to deal with bleeding during an accident, surgery or difficult childbirth. It can also be used to meet chronic needs, especially for patients with blood diseases or cancers. In these patients, the production of blood cells may be disturbed.

People between the ages of 18 and 70 who weigh at least 50 kg can donate blood. While some contraindications exist, 80% of postponements are temporary. A blood donation may be possible in the following weeks or months. To test its donation ability, go to dondesang.efs.sante.fr/test-aptitude-au-don.

Faced with the great need for blood products, patients need everyone. Become a donor ambassador by promoting blood donation to those around you or to your company. Encouraging as many people as possible to donate blood is the best way to meet the needs.

One hour is enough to donate blood. The route is very simple: welcome at the collection point, interview with a health professional, sampling and A + break with a snack offered by the EFS.

More than 120 donation houses are spread over the whole of France. In addition to these fixed collection points, 40 mobile collections are organized each year. They can take place in private or public places of crowds (high schools, universities, companies, town halls, etc.). To find a nearby collection point, just a few clicks on the EFS interactive map: https://dondesang.efs.sante.fr/trouver-une-collecte. A “Blood donation” application can also be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet.