"We need 10,000 more": Insufficient blood donations at the start of summer, the EFS launches an appeal

The French Blood Establishment is launching an appeal. On France Info this Saturday, July 19, Thierry Peyrard, head of blood products at the public service that manages blood donations, warned of a stock of bags that "is lower than last year's."

"We currently have around 90,000 blood bags; we need 10,000 more to be able to approach the summer with peace of mind," he explained.

According to the head of the EFS, the causes were the heatwave at the end of June and beginning of July, which "did not help," and the "three-day weekend of July 14," which had "consequences for our blood product reserves."

On July 8, in a press release , the EFS already warned of "too few" blood donations at the start of summer. "To reverse the trend and replenish our reserves, we must mobilize strongly from now on. We repeat it regularly: the disease does not take a vacation and patients need us!" declared Hervé Meinrad, director of blood collection and production at the establishment.

Less than 4% of French people of donor age, between 18 and 70, give blood at least once a year. "We can do better," said EFS President Frédéric Pacoud at a press conference ahead of World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

The criteria for donating blood are available on the EFS website . New criteria, which will apply from the beginning of September , will allow you to donate blood two months after getting a tattoo or piercing, instead of four months previously, thanks to improved screening techniques for the hepatitis C virus.

Donation locations are visible on an EFS map . It is possible to donate blood every eight weeks, up to four times a year for women and six times for men.