While most French people are currently preparing the little getaways that they will enjoy in May using the bridges, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) has other plans for them. The public service would indeed like to see the population mobilize massively to donate blood, reports Actu.fr.
“Every year, the month of May is a sensitive period,” explains the EFS in a communicated. “Public holidays and bridges lead to a drop in collection. […] At the same time, the need for transfusions remains high. »
A short lifespan for blood products
During the Easter weekend, the EFS recorded a drop of 10,000 blood bags compared to a typical week, according to Hervé Meinrad, director of collection and production of blood products for the establishment. With travel plans and long weekends, the French are thinking less about making an appointment to donate their blood, platelets or plasma.
However, the needs of the EFS are still the same. Blood products cannot in fact be kept indefinitely: platelets are only kept for 7 days and red blood cells for 42 days. Donations must therefore remain constant throughout the year, explains the EFS.
The public service therefore invites all French people who can to mobilize now and come at the end of April or beginning of May to donate blood at one of the fixed or mobile collection points. In April, 15,000 appointments are still to be filled, specifies the EFS. As a reminder, blood donation is open to anyone aged 18 to 70 in good health. Some contraindications exist, and the EFS has put a quick quiz online to find out in a few clicks if you can donate blood.