Parisians are waiting for hours for their chance to give blood for attack victims

Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris left at least 127 dead and about 200 people injured, causing an increased demand for blood to help the wounded. These photos show how the people of Paris are responding: People are lining up around the block to donate blood at hospitals all over the city.

Parisians stand in line to donate blood. 99 people still critical after #parisattacks pic.twitter.com/JofIHhVOQ1

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) November 14, 2015

Énorme mobilisation dans le 9ème à #Paris pour le #dondusang. C'est beau à voir. pic.twitter.com/NgYHs94rkd

— Jules Guillaud (@julesgui) November 14, 2015

Long line of people queuing to give blood at hospital opposite Le Petit Cambodge restaurant. https://t.co/b1RTHsRTB3

— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 14, 2015

There are blood donation centers operating all over Paris. Some people are waiting hours for their chance to help the wounded.

Map of fixed or mobile blood donation centers in #Paris (via @infos140) pic.twitter.com/NkuTfz87BT

— Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992) November 14, 2015

There are so many volunteers that, according to Spiegel's Mathieu von Rohr, "many are being sent home." To help deal with this problem, the authorities are asking that people space out their donations over the next week, instead of standing in line to give today.

Something similar happened in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States: so much blood was given that authorities were forced to throw some of it away. The lesson: giving blood during an emergency is good, but giving blood regularly — whether or not an emergency is in the news — is even better.

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