The twelfth edition of the annual three-day collection “my blood for others” begins on March 2 in the “sumptuous” salons of the Town Hall of the 5th arrondissement of Paris, (place du Panthéon). The French are therefore invited to take “one hour of their time to save three lives”, announces the French Blood Establishment (EFS) which organizes this collection with its partner Rotary International. “1,700 blood donations are needed every day in Île-de-France to treat the sick”, writes the EFS in a press release.
Respond to patient needs.
This initiative will make it possible to maintain stocks of blood products at a satisfactory level, and thus best meet the needs of patients for whom transfusions are vital, according to the EFS. “Blood collection is essential all year round and it is necessary that they can perform this act of solidarity on a regular and constant basis”, explains the French Blood Establishment.
The shelf life of blood products is limited: seven days for platelets, forty-two days for red blood cells. Blood donation is possible every eight weeks, up to six times a year for men and four times a year for women. Donors will be welcomed in the halls of the town hall which “open their doors exceptionally”, hoping that this will attract more people because the needs are still important.
Useful tips
The collection is organized this Thursday and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. To donate blood, French people aged 18 to 70 must make an appointment on the EFS, where blood collection locations are indicated. It is mandatory to have a photo ID and wearing a mask and highly recommended. Last year, 400 donors responded to the associations’ call.