“After the heat wave, make way for the wave of solidarity”. By this message the French blood establishment hopes to give a boost to donations in this month of July. The demand is always high, while the reserves decrease drastically. A danger that we under esteem.
15,000 pockets are missing
In the leading heat of the early summer, the donors were rare. Result: blood reserves are dangerously annoyed. The French Blood Establishment (EFS) alerts a critical situation: 15,000 pockets are lacking in order to ensure patient care in the coming weeks. “July is a very sensitive moment for blood donations”underlines the EFS in its official press release. In question, the heat wave in early July, combined with vacation departures, which caused a brutal fall in attendance in the houses of the donation.
Why summer is a critical period for blood donations
Summer is a period under tension every year for the EFS. In 2025, the situation seems even more tense. The combination of overwhelming weather and disorganization linked to leave amplified the effects of the usual seasonal decline. Mobile collections were strongly impacted in early July. Result: the reserves of red blood cells have descended below the alert threshold, and certain hospitals already plan to postpone non -urgent operations.
“It would take 10,000 donations per day to maintain stock levels“, hammers the EFS in the media. This figure represents the minimum national average to meet the transfusion needs, whether chronic treatments or vital emergencies.”Patients do not take a vacation “recalls the establishment.
Where to give blood this summer?
Faced with this situation, the EFS calls on citizens to an immediate solidarity burst. For this, several simple solutions are available to volunteers:
- Going to a donation house near you, (or on your vacation place!), Open all summer;
- Make an appointment on the dondesang.efs.sante.fr site or on the blood donation application;
- Participate in a mobile collection, the places of which are updated regularly online;
- Talking about the donation around you, because each new donor counts.
The French Blood Establishment (EFS) highlights the importance of blood donations, in particular the O- group, considered as a universal donor. He recalls that it is possible to give his blood all summer, everywhere in France, including at his vacation place, thanks to the 12,000 appointment slots offered each day. To be eligible, it is enough to be between 18 and 70 years old, to be healthy and to weigh more than 50 kg. No need to be on an empty stomach, and care on site lasts only forty minutes in all.
“We must not believe that it is more complicated in summer”said an EFS spokesperson in Franceinfo. “”Everything is in place so that donations go in good conditions, including hot weather. The message is clear: each donation counts, and there is no need to wait until September to act. On the contrary, it is now that the needs are the most pressing.