Blood donation

Discover the calendar of mobile blood drives or go directly to the Maison du don de Montpellier (Parc Euromédecine, 392 avenue du Professeur Jean-Louis Viala, 34000 Montpellier).

Blood donation

• Principle: between 420 and 480 ml of whole blood (red blood cells, platelets and plasma) are collected, depending on the donor's weight.
• Time: the procedure itself takes around 10 minutes. Adding the time for the pre-donation interview, then the rest and snack time that follows the collection, blood donation takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour.
• Frequency and timeframe: a woman can donate blood a maximum of 4 times a year, a man 6 times a year; while respecting an 8-week timeframe between each blood donation.
• Who can donate blood?Anybody in good health, aged between 18 and 70 and recognized as fit following the pre-donation interview, can donate blood. Group O-negative (O-) donors are particularly sought as their red blood cells can be transfused to all patients. However, donors of any blood type are welcome.
• Storage: red blood cells have a limited shelf life, they can only be stored for 42 days.
• Uses: blood donation is the most common form of donation. Red blood cells are mainly used in haematology (blood diseases) and oncology.They are also indispensable in the event of haemorrhage (traumatology, childbirth...) or scheduled surgery.

Plasma donation

• Principle: up to 750 ml of plasma is collected from the donor by apheresis. The blood passes through a machine that stores the plasma and returns the other blood components (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) to the donor. Plasma donation is by appointment only at a Maison du don.
• Duration: the donation lasts around 45 min. From arrival to departure, you should allow around 1h30.
• Frequency and timeframe: anyone can donate their plasma up to 24 times a year, with a 2-week gap between each donation.
  Preservation: plasma, which can be frozen, can be kept for up to 1 year.
• Who can donate their plasma?All donors aged 18 to 65 can, on medical advice, make a plasma donation. Group AB donors are particularly sought-after as they are "universal donors" of plasma: their plasma can be transfused to all patients.
• Uses: burn victims, hemophiliacs (bleeding disorders), children with humanitarian deficiencies are all individuals who can be treated thanks to a plasma donation. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, contains proteins of major therapeutic interest for many patients. It is supplied to them by transfusion or in the form of medication.

By signing a Partnership Agreement with the Établissement français du sang (EFS) in 2016, the City of Montpellier marked a strong commitment alongside the public health operator. This defines the reciprocal commitments of the City of Montpellier and the EFS Occitanie for the promotion of blood donation on municipal territory.

By becoming a "Partenaire du Don de Sang", the City of Montpellier undertakes to:

• Accompany the organization of blood drives by opening the doors of various public places to host mobile blood drives throughout the year.
• Sensitize Montpellier residents to the importance of blood donation through the organization of information campaigns, the distribution of documents to new arrivals, and the dissemination of educational information to the population.

As the sole operator of blood transfusion under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, the Etablissement Français du Sang's main mission is national self-sufficiency in blood products.

10,000 blood donations must be collected every day in France to meet the needs of patients

This is the only public health sector that relies on national solidarity and the generosity of donors. In its challenge for self-sufficiency, the EFS aims to reach out to donors and facilitate their access to donation. In this context, the Fédération Française pour le Don de Sang Bénévole and the Association des Maires de France signed a partnership agreement in 2010 aimed at getting communes more involved in pursuing this public health challenge.

Montpellier and its Metropolis, key players in the healthcare sector

Home to Europe's oldest medical school still in operation, Montpellier has historically been linked to the healthcare sector, which radiates throughout its territory. Home to France's 6th-largest university hospital and cutting-edge research centers, the metropolis is also home to international groups and numerous start-ups, and benefits from the renown of the Eurobiomed inter-regional competitiveness cluster, one of France's and Europe's leading clusters in the sector.

These assets form a solid foundation for fostering the development of the economic fabric, boosting its attractiveness and making Montpellier a health region with the Montpellier Capital Santé project. The City and Metropolis also play an active role in preventive health care, alongside all the players, particularly associations, working in this area.

General public events to recruit new donors and get the word out about blood donation

As well as regular blood drives in the city center, the City of Montpellier supports the Etablissement Français du Sang for the organization of its flagship blood drives:

• The "Mon sang pour les autres" blood drive with the 10 Rotary Clubs of Greater Montpellier, at the Opéra Comédie or the former Hôtel de Ville (salle Pagezy) organized twice a year, in April and December.
• World Blood Donor Day organized every year on June 14.
• "Gastronome", "Halloween", "Christmas" events at the Maison du don.