8:30 a.m. in Lorient, this Monday, July 11, 2022, the Blood donation center already looks like a beehive. Nurses in white coats are busy in the rooms and corridors of this local branch of the French Blood Establishment (EFS). Everything is clean, calm, orderly. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you back your arm in a minute,” jokes Julien, a nurse at the EFS for just a year, to put his young donor at ease.
About forty donors parade every day at the Maison du Don in Lorient. At 53, William is a regular. “It’s a fairly simple act that can save lives,” he says. Sitting not far from him, Franck, 24, regularly donates plasma, unable to donate blood, due to a stay in Africa. “Donations were regularly organized in my IUT. I got used to it, it costs nothing. The EFS application allows me to make an appointment super easily”.
“The mobilization must continue”
“There is little precariousness in blood collections at the local level” certifies Géraldine Malard, in charge of communication for the EFS in Brittany. The appeal for donations campaign organized by the largest medical biological laboratory in France has proven to be effective. Brittany is a very good student at the national level, with a generosity rate of 4.9% of potential donors in Morbihan, against 3.5% in the whole country. “The mobilization must continue this summer,” hopes the communications officer. “For two years, we have had great difficulty in stabilizing the reserves due to the pandemic context. Many donors and staff are sick, and collections are disused; but there is no decrease in needs”.
The danger is the irregularity of donations
Who says collected blood, says snack
At the end of their donation, a copious and varied snack awaits the donors: fruits, brownies, cereals, brioche, dairy products, and hot and cold drinks of all kinds. It’s out of the question to let anyone out before being sure that they are well restored and hydrated, surveillance obliges! From the bar, nurses make conversation and ensure that no stomach comes home empty.
The precious blood continues on its way. “It is sent to the center of Rennes during the day”, explains Myriam Limbour, head of samples from Morbihan. “Each dose, treated, saves three lives! “Red blood cells, platelets and plasma are separated to be transfused to people with long-term illnesses, often cancers or leukemia. “The danger is the irregularity of the donations”, warns the nurse. Notice to interested parties.
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