Donating blood in Avon takes place at the weekend, which immediately dispels the most common excuse. The’French Blood Establishment takes place twice a season in the Léon Béra Hall, at the Butte Montceau shopping centre, opposite the municipal police station.
Avon’s collections take place on a Sunday or a Saturday, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm, whilst those in Fontainebleau are held on a Wednesday in the late afternoon. Both schedules are drawn up by the EFS and submitted to the local authorities: they complement each other rather than compete. If one never seems to fit in with your week, the other is bound to work out.
One hour on site, including a preliminary consultation and a light snack. The donation itself takes about ten minutes. If you book a midday slot, it fits in between running errands and lunch without disrupting your weekend. A single donation can help treat several patients, whether through transfusions or the management of chronic conditions, and stocks cannot be built up in advance: platelets last a few days, whilst red blood cells last a few weeks.
The dates for 2027 will be announced in December.
One thing you need to know before you go: you must be fluent in French – reading, writing and speaking. You will need to complete the health questionnaire yourself, and the consultation with the doctor will be in French. This is a safety measure, for both the donor and the recipient.
Léon Béra Hall, La Butte Montceau shopping centre in Avon, opposite the municipal police station. Information on booking appointments and the conditions for donating can be found at the website of the French Blood Establishment. Remember to eat before you come and to bring some form of ID.
A few words are enough, I reply personally.