A crucial topic that often goes unmentioned and unnoticed is blood donation. These regular contributions directly benefit Crawford County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) and our patients, making them an indispensable part of our local healthcare infrastructure.
LifeServe Blood Center
Dustin Durbin, CCMH’s Volunteer Services and Community Outreach Coordinator, noted that CCMH and Denison are supplied with blood and blood products by LifeServe Blood Center.
“LifeServe, with their crew from Sioux City, makes a dedicated trip to Denison on the second Monday of every month. They’re typically here for appointments from 12:15 PM to 5:45 PM. The LifeServe team is an incredible group of people to work with.”
A notable shift in recent years, prompted by the pandemic, has been the move of the blood drives from LifeServe’s bloodmobile parked outside to a set-up inside the CCMH facility.
“It works out pretty well,” Durbin noted. “It helps not only patients from the community but also our own staff, who can easily pop in during their lunch break or even during work hours. It takes anywhere from half an hour to 45 minutes to give blood, and it’s a truly good deed.”
Direct Community Benefit
One of the most remarkable aspects of these local blood drives, Durbin emphasized, is the direct benefit to our community.
“It’s really cool that locally donated blood comes back and stays local. It’s not something that happens all over the country. With LifeServe’s help, we are actually able to save lives right here in Denison. We’re coming into that time of year when blood donations tend to start to fall off because people have other things to do. I’m working hard to make sure no one forgets about blood donations.”
Flexibility in Scheduling
Durbin assured potential donors that the LifeServe team is very accommodating.
“They’re very willing to work with people. If you’re willing to donate, LifeServe will help find a time that works for the donor. Walk-ins are welcome. Even if there’s a slight wait, LifeServe will make it work.”
For those worried about the busiest times, Durbin offers a helpful tip.
“Appointments over the lunch hour fill up fast. My advice is to schedule for later in the afternoon. I would say anywhere between one to four o’clock is a perfect time to get in and out relatively quickly.”
New Donors Encouraged
For first-time donors, the process might seem daunting.
“If you are a first-timer, know that LifeServe wants to make blood donation as easy as possible. Once you have an appointment, they will take care of everything else. When you arrive at CCMH to donate, LifeServe will get you registered. They will check your hemoglobin. They will do all the things to make sure you’re able to give blood that day.”
Donating Blood is Almost Painless
The age-old question for potential donors is, “Does it hurt?” Durbin’s answer was reassuring.
“Any pain you experience for blood donation is minimal. There might be a small amount of discomfort during that initial donation. But if you do it over and over again, it’s like clockwork. Once your blood donation starts, it’s pretty easy going. If you are a first-timer, don’t be scared.”
How To Make An Appointment
For those ready to make a lifegiving donation, there are three easy ways to schedule an appointment:
- Call LifeServe: 1-800-287-4903
- Visit Online: LifeServe.info/schedule
- Text: Text “LifeServe” (L-I-F-E-S-E-R-V-E) to 999-777
The next LifeServe blood drive is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025.
