“We are missing 20,000 bags of blood”: the SAI warns of its lowest stocks and asks for donations

The frequency of alerts testifies to the urgency of the situation. In this end-of-year period, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) is once again raising the alarm and affirming, once again, that its stocks are at their lowest point. In an interview with France Info, Pascale Richard, the latter’s medical director, confirms that “the stock level is 20% below the ideal level to be able to treat patients.”

“We are basically short of 20,000 bags of blood. The ideal would be to have 100,000 bags and at the moment we are around 80,000 ”, he explains.

encourage donations

To fill this gap, 1,500 daily donations are needed. So, to encourage the French to go to the collection centers, the SAI communicates throughout the year on social media.

On Twitter lately, the Establishment has chosen to use an unconventional tone associated with figures of popular culture, Bruce Willis in the saga intransigentto attract potential donors.

“To be able to donate blood, you only need to be in good health, be between 18 and 70 years old,” encourages Pascale Richard in her interview with the national media.

“You have to make an appointment in our “Blood donation” application. Donors have to do their eligibility test in the application, which verifies that you can donate blood. It is very important that everyone mobilizes because it is a constant need” , insists.

Among the most sought-after groups, the scientist points out that “all groups are expected” but that “O groups are expected much more and more particularly the negative ones”.

1 million patients treated in 2022

Donating blood has very practical implications for patients. “A blood donation saves three patients as it allows you to make a bag of red blood cells, a bag of platelets and a bag of plasma at the same time”, continues Pascale Richard, who also mentions transfusions.

“For some of them, they must receive six or seven bags every month for their entire lives,” he warns.

By the year 2022 alone, the EFS estimates that one million patients have been treated thanks to donations.