Two social media influencers are aiming to help draw in a record number of blood donors in Paris this weekend.
French X (formerly Twitter) phenomenon Arkunir and streamer Farès Bichard have called on their followers to set a new "European record of blood donation".
Posts from both in mid-November boosted registrations for a blood donation event being held in Paris from Thursday, 28 November until Sunday, 1 December.
Of 4,100 appointments originally available there were just 350 left the day before the drive began, with 30 percent of those who had signed up younger than 30 years old.
The duo of influencers, who will host a Twitch special on Saturday at 2pm, spontaneously contacted the French national blood bank, EFS, its director Guillaume du Chaffaut told the French AFP news agency.
"Influencers are a good push to help us, along with our usual communication campaigns, to try to reach this younger, more connected, more mobile community," he said.
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Since their involvement, EFS has seen a 20 percent jump in donors in September and October across France.
This weekend's blood drive in Paris wraps up the "donor marathon" that the EFS has been running since January in sports facilities, in connection with the 2024 summer Olympics held in Paris.
But du Chaffaut cautions that even if France has a good number of blood donors among young people, they need to be convinced to become regulars – because once they start working, they often slow down their rate of donations, even if they then return later in life.
EFS needs to retain donors to increase plasma supplies, as "65 percent of plasma used in France to make medication comes from abroad, in particular the United States,” du Chaffaut warned.
He added that securing French plasma donations is a “big concern” for the coming years.
(with AFP)
