The tone is, if not alarmist, at least very serious. In a press release, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional agency (ARS) of the French Blood Establishment (EFS) is sounding the alarm: blood reserves have never been so low for ten years. The EFS claims to have in reserve only 82,000 bags of red blood cells, while it is necessary, at least, to have 100,000 bags to have enough blood from each group in all hospitals.
A situation which is due to the health crisis linked to Covid-19. The bulk of donations (80%) are usually made through mobile collection, with the EFS visiting businesses, schools and universities. However, since March these collections have hardly taken place (teleworking, health measures, etc.).
For these reasons the EFS is launching an urgent appeal for donations and is organizing collections between September 23 and October 3. They will take place on September 23 at Mansle, (multipurpose room) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. September 24, in Jarnac, (village hall) from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. September 25 at Chabanais (village hall), from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. September 28 at Roullet-Saint-Estèphe (village hall), from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. September 29 at Confolens (village hall) from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and September 30 at Sireuil (village hall) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
You can also go to the EFS premises, to the site of the Girac hospital in Angoulême.
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