Blood banks all over the world are always in need of donors, and Paris is no different. If you’d like to brave the needles to save a life, here’s what you need to know.
In France, blood, plasma and platelet donations are voluntary, anonymous, and free (donors are not paid).
The minimum requirements to donate are:
- You must be at least 18 and not over 70
- You must weigh at least 50 kilos (110 pounds)
- You must NOT have an empty stomach (make sure you eat!)
- You need to bring a photo ID
Also, you can NOT donate blood if:
- You have traveled to certain countries in the past 4months
- You’re pregnant or have given birth in the past 6 months
- You have already donated in the past 8 weeks
- You have had a fever in the past two weeks
- You have been to the dentist or taken antibiotics in the past week
- You are currently under treatment for a chronic illnesses, iron deficiency, or respiratory problems
- You have had within the past four months: any kind of surgery, a piercing, a tattoo, or sex with more than one partner
- You have ever been treated for cancer
- You have lived in the UK for the period of a year from 1980-1996 (mad cow risk!)
- You have tested positive for hepatitis B or C, HIV/AIDS, or syphilis
- You have received a blood transfusion or donated organ
- You have ever used illegal intravenous drugs
You should know enough French to be able to answer the questionnaire and understand the instructions about where and when to make your donation.
Where to Donate Blood
You may periodically see blood drive tents on public squares (Place d’Italie, Place de la République, etc). These, like many blood collection centers in France, don’t need any prior registration (“sans rendez-vous”), just show up. Every hospital has blood, plasma and platelet collection facilities, but you usually need to make a reservation.
For more info visit Donner du Sang, and to make your reservation on-line in advance visit https://mon-rdv-dondesang.efs.sante.fr/
Hi, is there any places where they can speak English and accept my blood because I have gone so many places but the problem is I can’t speak french so they say sorry we can’t accept you. Please suggest me place where they speak in English and i give my blood
Have you contacted the American Hospital in Neuilly? They might do blood drives, too.
Hi, is there any center that accepts people who speak English and help to fill the form ? My wife went to Saint crozatier centre in Paris 12eme and they did not receive her and told her to go and learn French!!!!
The same thing has happended to me in Rennes. I can read enough French to be able to fill the form, but the interview with the doctor (who did not speak english) did not go well. I suggested to use a third person as my interpretter (there were several people waiting, who did speak english and were willing to help me) but the doctor said it was not allowed because of privacy issues!? I tried to convince her that the privacy issues were non-existent since I was giving my concent, but I was not successsful…
This is a complicated one, because there’s an interview with the doctor once you’ve passed the initial registration. And this can only be done privately, as I discovered when I tried bringing my mom with me (so she wouldn’t have to wait by herself). I believe the issue is that they are asking extremely personal questions about your sexual practices and medical history, and are probably worried you might not be completely honest with another person there.
So how to find one who speaks English? The best thing would be to call in advance. I’d guess hospitals would be better staffed than temporary blood donor events in tents, but it’s hard to say. As grumpy and mean as they might seem, understand that healthcare workers in France are overworked and underpaid, have been massively understaffed since Covid, and are also desperate for blood donations. To expect them to also be fluent enough in a foreign language to conduct a sensitive medical interview might be a bit much (I can’t imagine expecting a doctor in the US to be fluent in French).
You could try calling the American or British hospitals (both in suburbia) to see if they have blood drives (they are private hospitals and might not have as much of a need of donations, though).
I want to donate blood and im applicable according to the requirements,just only the problem is i dont know french well for the interview,is their any translator can assist regarding the questions to translate in english and where i can donate,i live in 8th arrondisment.thanks
I live in bondy. I want to donate my blood. Where is blood donation camp in Paris city ?
Use this link to find the ones open in Paris or closer to Bondy: https://mon-rdv-dondesang.efs.sante.fr/
This restriction on people who have lived in the UK for a year from 1980-1996 seems very spurious to me. For a start French farmers did have cases of BSE, though it was hushed up. And secondly, if you stayed there for 11 months and 29 days you can give blood, and yet iif you lived there the whole of the time and were vegetarian or never ate red meat you can”t. This doesn’t make sense as it only takes one intake of infected meat to be a threat: it’s not a cumulative thing. So any French person who went there during that time and had one meal could have vache folle in their blood. Incredulous when a friend told me about this, I went to my local hospital to try to give blood and the nurse told me this restriction was indeed in place. She was most apologetic and clearly thought it was nonsense too. Sounds like one xenophobic French minister made up this rule and it has never been contested.
As far as I know there aren’t restrictions, so if you try it successfully do let us know!
Heather,Thanks for this — I’m definitely interested. I’m here as a tourist, but for an extended period. Do you know of any restrictions to giving blood if you’re here on a tourist visa?