Comfortably installed, those who give their blood can contemplate the high golden ceilings of the salons of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, where the EFS is organizing a collection until June 14. - A. Boumediene / 20 Minutes

  • Since deconfinement, blood donations have plummeted and reserves have fallen below the alert threshold.
  • At the same time, elective surgeries have resumed, and the need for blood products has increased again.
  • The French Blood Establishment calls on donors to mobilize and notably organizes a collection until Sunday in the salons of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris.

Sitting on a concrete pad, Maxime takes the sun while waiting for the time of his meeting. In a quarter of an hour, the 23-year-old student will donate his blood in the salons of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, made available to the French Blood Establishment (EFS), which organizes there until Sunday a fundraiser*. And there is an emergency.

As a result of the coronavirus crisis, the EFS was unable to erect its ephemeral village on the forecourt, as it did last year on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, whose edition 2020 takes place this Sunday. Another consequence: since deconfinement, donations have plummeted and stocks are so low that they may not cover the needs which have increased.

Mask and hydroalcoholic gel for everyone

Once past the security gate, a volunteer checks the name and time of the donors' meeting. Then, it's a mask and hydroalcoholic gel for everyone. "Since March 15, we have implemented a specific health protocol, with a donation system by appointment, a new organization that allows better management of the flow and limits waiting times", explains Dr François Charpentier , ESF spokesperson. Obviously, those who come spontaneously are welcomed.

Under the golden ceilings and the crystal chandeliers of the salons of the Hôtel de Ville, we do not joke with barrier gestures. Donors are far away from each other, and doctors, nurses and volunteers are also all masked. After registering, donors are invited to sit down and answer a questionnaire about their state of health. As an additional precaution, a volunteer disinfects the seats between each pass.

Between each donor, the seats are disinfected by a volunteer. - A. Boumediene / 20 Minutes

Then everyone meets a doctor for a medical interview. "In addition to the usual questions, the doctor makes sure that the donors have not shown symptoms of Covid-19 or any other pathology in the previous days," says Dr. Charpentier. Maud, a young student who returned from abroad during confinement, will have to wait a few days before being able to donate blood. "I have a little pain, so the doctor did not want to take any risks and advised me to do medical exams," said the young woman.

"Our stocks are below the alert threshold"

Many people answered the call, like Mamoudou and Victor. At 19, the two young men are regular donors. “We wanted to come before confinement, then after, the context was particular. So there, when we saw that the donations were missing, we didn't hesitate, ”they say. “I received an SMS from the EFS to donate my blood, so I came. It is important to remain mobilized for those who need our blood. Those who have accidents or illnesses count on us, ”adds Mamoudou.

At only 19, Mamoudou and Victor both regularly donate blood. - A. Boumediene / 20 Minutes

Because since deconfinement, the needs for blood products have gone up again, to reach their normal level. But donations have fallen. "Paradoxically, there was no shortage of blood products during confinement: many people came to donate because they had the time and the opportunity, and they wanted to help, to feel useful, note Aurore, a volunteer from ADBS, the association for voluntary blood donation in Paris, mobilized on collections during confinement. We even had a lot of first-time donors, and saw a lot of former donors come back. ” But "since May 11, there has been a significant drop in donations, worries Dr. Charpentier. With the health crisis, we have lost part of our collection territory ”. In practice, since March, "universities, vocational high schools, all the places of collection installed in higher education, but also businesses and administrations, everything has closed," describes the doctor.

For almost three months, the EFS has been deprived of a precious source. “Corporate collections usually represent 30% of the samples taken in Ile-de-France, which is very important. And with teleworking which is privileged and universities which have not reopened, we fear a lasting fall in donations at least until September. Hence the importance of mobilizing as many donors as possible on existing collections ”. And there is urgency: "our stocks are below the alert threshold, the deficit is widening between the fall in donations and needs, in particular due to the resumption of transplants and numerous surgical procedures".

"Spread the word to your loved ones so they can come and give"

So, under the high ceilings of the Town Hall, volunteers and caregivers are busy to welcome a maximum of donors. "We can receive 360 ​​here every day," says Aurore. And since it takes at least eight weeks between two donations, old and new donors are more expected than ever to ensure constant needs. Hence the presence of Marie, who has just donated her blood and gives herself a small snack. “I gave a long time, then I stopped when I became a mom, for lack of time. Before confinement, I had planned to go to a collection at the Parc des Princes which was finally canceled because of the coronavirus. During confinement, I did school at home, so again, I ran out of time. But there, the resumption of my lawyer activity is quite calm, and as my husband is a carer, our daughters were able to return to school, so it was the perfect opportunity. I signed up last week, and I chose a niche that gives me time to pick up my girls from school. It is very well organized, and very pleasant to give in this beautiful setting! "

After the effort, the comfort, the time for a well-deserved snack. - A. Boumediene / 20 Minutes

Once regained strength, donors join the exit. But only after meeting Muriel, a volunteer, who invites them to put on a mask and hydroalcoholic gel, before giving them some goodies to thank them for their donation.

As they leave, the donors meet Muriel, a volunteer, who gives them some goodies to thank them for their donation. - A. Boumediene / 20 Minutes

She even ensures a communication mission: "Go on your social networks and spread the word to your loved ones so that they come to give".

* Collection of the French Blood Establishment at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, 5 rue de Lobeau, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., by appointment. But also everywhere in France.

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  • Solidarity
  • Confinement
  • Coronavirus
  • Deconfinement
  • Paris
  • Blood donation
  • Health